It is estimated that at least 80% of the 30,000 septic tanks in Donegal will fail current EU regulations when tested.

Cllr Paul Canning gave the estimate as he said that most houses constructed prior to 2010 would need extensive upgrading if Inspected under new government plans.

From next year, all homes with a council water supply, but not connected to a main sewer, will have to pay a 50 euro registration fee and have their septic tank inspected

Clr Canning outlines why he feels the overwhelming majority will fail…….

A Donegal County Councillor has concluded that motions passed at council meetings are not worth the paper the are written on.

Councillor Frank McBrearty says such is the public anger over the lack of action on council motions, that he had to leave a recent public meeting because he feared for his safety.

Greg Hughes had this report from yesterdays Council meeting:

Labour Senator Jimmy Harte has questioned the need for massive social welfare payments to many families after revealing that some are receiving €90,000 a year.

The Donegal Senator highlighted the case of one family from Dublin, an unemployed married couple with four children, who are being paid €1,763 per week.

Mr Harte, who received the information from Department of Social Protection officials, said €50,000 is more than enough for a family to survive on.

Senator Harte said that he believed the figure was far too much to be handed to a family in support payments….

A man who said he spent “hundreds of thousands” moving into his retirement home ended up living beside a dog-farm, Donegal District Court was told last evening.

Thomas Hegarty claimed that at one stage, there were up to 22 dogs running around his property and going to the toilet.

However, the 61-year-old denied threatening to burn the home of his neighbour Kieran Gambles who lived beside him at Fintra, Killybegs, Co. Donegal.

Mr. Hegarty was accused of threatening to damage Mr Gamble’s home and of breaching the peace with abusive behaviour between October 16 and 18 last year.

Kieran Gambles, a chef, said when he returned home one night Hegarty shouted abusively over the fence. Later, when he took dogs for a walk on land behind his house Hegarty was waiting for him and said he lost the sale of his house because of the dogs next door.

He said Mr  Hegarty gave him three weeks to get rid of the dogs, or he would burn him out.

Mr Gambles admitted at one stage he had five adult dogs and eight pups outside and a number of smaller pups in a kennel.

He also admitted he didn’t have planning permission for the kennels.

Mr Hegarty denied threatening Mr Gambles, or breaching the peace.

Judge Kevin Kilrane acknowledged that dogs could be a nuisance, but he said Mr Hegarty had legal avenues open to him, such as going through the law over planning matters and noise pollution.

The judge received an assurance from Hegarty that he would refrain from engaging in threatening or public order behaviour and he struck out the proceedings.

Donegal Volunteer Centre will today launch a new initiative aimed at supporting the emergency services, civil defence, community groups and voluntary committees.

The Donegal Volunteer Corps is the brainchild of Donegal Volunteer Centre, and is being launched this morning as part of National Volunteer Week.

The launch will be performed by Presidential Candidate Mary Davies.

Gearoid O’Maonaigh is head of the Donegal Volunteer Centre, he’s been outlining how this new initiative will work…..

Presidential hopeful Dana Rosemary Scallon has managed to gain the backing of two county councils – Roscommon and Carlow.

This means she just needs two more councils to support her, in order to get her name onto the ballot paper.

Speaking earlier in Roscommon the former Eurovision winner said she’s so grateful to the local authorities for giving her a chance to run for the presidency.

Donegal County Council will hold a special meeting on  Tuesday morning at which it is expected it will support Dana’s bid.

The meeting was called last week at the request of Fianna Fail Councillor Ciaran Brogan.

Police  have confirmed that a bomb has been found in a car at the centre of a security alert in Derry.

Army bomb experts have removed the device from the vehicle which was on the Buncrana Road close to the Donegal border.

Three men aged 54, 49 and 46 have been arrested over alleged dissident republican activity.

The Buncrana road was closed as part of the operation.

A 22-year-old Celtic fan has died in Bundoran at the Hills of Donegal Celtic Supporters Festival.

Victor Henry and his cousin arrived from his home in New Stevenson, Motherwell, met two other cousins from Galway and together they checked into a house in the town on Thursday.

He reported feeling unwell while they socialised that night, so they brought him back to the house. Gardai said Mr Henry was discovered dead at the foot of the stairs on Friday morning.

Inspector Denis Joyce says gardai are satisfied there was no foul play involved.

Gardai in the Milford District say one man has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of a quantity of telephone wire and other metal bases materials.

There were a number of searches in the Fanad area last week, and as part of that operation, the man was detained and charged. He is currently on bail pending a court appearance.

Gardai say the investigation is ongoing.

The drink-drive limit could be almost halved for most drivers in Northern Ireland.

Environment minister Alex Attwood plans to bring the limit in line with many other European countries.

It’ll be even lower for young or inexperienced motorists or those who drive for a living.

Random breath testing will enforce the tough new proposals.

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has welcomed the new proposals….