It’s emerged that thousands of construction workers may miss out on European money for re-training because of mistakes by the previous Government.

The Education and Skills Minister Ruairi Quinn says he’s concerned that millions of euro will have to be returned to Europe unspent.

In June of last year the Fianna Fáil/Green Government applied for retraining funding for 9,000 named unemployed construction workers.

Funding of 35 million euro was approved to be spent on retraining on nearly 6,000 of these.

Donegal South-West Deputy Pearse Doherty says many construction workers didn’t even know about this fund….

Polling stations have now opened around the country as voters prepare to cast their ballots in the Presidential election.

We’ll know who the ninth President of Ireland is by tomorrow, or Saturday at the latest.

Voters are also being asked to decide whether to implement  two constitutional referendums.

Polling stations will remain open until 10 o’clock tonight.

People have probably received a polling card outlining their polling station, but should also bring along photo ID as they may be asked for it to vote.

Everyone will get three ballots – one for the presidential election, with the seven candidates listed.

Two other ballot papers on constitutional referendums will also be given to voters to mark Yes or No – one on cutting judicial pay, the other on whether to give Oireachtas Committees powers of investigation.

Once polls close tonight, ballot boxes will be secured, before counting begins tomorrow. Votes from the Donegal South-West constituency will be counted in the Finn Valley Centre in Ballybofey, while votes from the Donegal North-East constituency will be counted in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.

Meanwhile, turnout today is expected to be low.

Islanders on five islands off the coast of the County voted on Monday, and the turnout was below average.

A total of 937 people were registered to vote on the five islands — Arranmore, Tory, Gola, Inishbofin and Inishfree.

With just 25 people registered on Gola, an impressive 14 made the short crossing to the island from Magheragallon in Gweedore.

Out of a total of 139 people registered to vote on Tory, just 58, or 42p%, cast their votes. On Inishbofin, turnout was dismal, with just seven out of 67 voting.

On the largest island of Arranmore, where 698 people are registered, just over 40% turned-out.

A Romanian teenager with an address in Letterkenny has admitted stealing eight bottles of aftershave from a department store in Derry.

19-year-old Robert Christian Bicler of Station House, Pearse Road in Letterkenny, appeared at  Derry Magistrates Court today.

He also admitted possession of a tin-foil lined bag which he used to conceal the bottles.

The court was told Bicler took the aftershave, valued at £285, from Debenhams’ Foyleside store on yesterday.

District Judge Barney McElholm was told Bicler, who recently arrived in Ireland from Italy, had previously been given a police caution for stealing perfume from the same store in October.

Defence solicitor Walter Hegarty said Bicler planned to sell the perfume and send the money to his ill mother in Romania and he added that because of some “cultural peculiarities” in areas of Romania, shoplifting was not regarded as a serious criminal offence.

The judge said such behaviour put at risk the jobs of shop employees.

Bicler was given a five-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Dr James McDaid was elected the new Chairman of the Donegal Hospice last night.

The former Government Minister was one of the five founding members of the Hospice in 1988.

This is the first time that he has been elected chair.

Concerns have been raised about the future of Donegal Hospice in past, but Dr McDaid said as far he’s concerned, it’s now an institution here in the County……

Tough new drink driving laws will come into force from tomorrow – ahead of the bank holiday weekend, with gardai in Donegal promising a large presence on the roads.

The drink drive limit is being cut from 80 to 50 milligrammes – and 20 milligrammes for learner and professional drivers.

There’ll also be a graduated penalty points system for offenders.

Susan Gray of the Donegal based road safety organisation PARC says the new legislation will no doubt save lives…………

A Donegal Councillor and hotellier says a new report on tourism on the western seaboard will be of no use unless it is backed up with resources for promotion.

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has published  its “New Direction for Tourism in the West” report, which says demand for tourism in western counties has dropped by an estimated 37% over 12 years, and the hospitality industry from Donegal to Cork needs to focus more on promoting local heritage and lifestyle.

However, Councillor Sean Mc Eniff says this report says nothing that isn’t already known……

Derry City manager Stephen Kenny has been praising his players for their success after securing European football at the Brandywell for next season. The Candystrips took the required point last weekend in the 1-1 draw with St. Patricks Athlete at Inichicore. It was Stephen McLaughlin who grabbed a calamitous equalizer for his side. The game was turned on its head in the 73rd minute as St. Pats goalkeeper Chris Bennion failed to see McLaughlin behind him and rolled the ball in front of him to clear forward. McLaughlin ghosted in from behind and slotted the ball into an empty net. Derry has experienced the European footballing buzz under Stephen Kenny before. In the 06/07 season they reached the 1^st Round of the Uefa Cup thanks to wins over IFK Gothenburg and Gretna FC in the qualifiers. Their journey that year came to end at the hands of Paris Saint Germain in the French capital. After holding Paris to a nil all draw at the Brandywell, Derry lost 2-0 in the second away leg. At the end of the 2009 season Derry were demoted to the first division, owing to huge debts which breached their participation agreement. In two years the club have climbed back to fight at the top of the Premier Division, lift silverware in the form of a League Cup and secure European football for 2012.
Manager Stephen Kenny says the club has made good progress.
 

A Donegal North-East Deputy is claiming that rather than consulting with local politicians and communities about Garda Station closures, the Justice Minister is preparing his excuses for going ahead.

Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn is dismissing Alan Shatter’s claim that it may well be the case that best policing can be provided by closing some Garda stations.

In the Dail last evening,  Minister Shatter said  the Government may have no choice but to close some Garda stations as savings have to be made. Dozens of rural stations are expected to close as a result, with fears that over 20 could close in Donegal.

Deputy Padraig MacLochlain says the way Minister Shatter is acting suggests decisions are already made……..

A Donegal County Councillor is calling on the Government to stop cuts to disability services and benefits.

Cllr Patrick McGowan says the last two budgets have seen disability benefits cut by €16, while people attending training centres are now being charged for transport by the Rural Transport Initiative, when it was previously  provided free by the HSE

The Stranorlar area councillor is calling on all councils around the country to lobby government ahead of  December’s budget…….

The government says there are no plans to cut NoW DOC services in Donegal.

The Dail was told last evening that there are real concerns in the county that thecould be completely cut after midnight, and that the four NoW DOC centres covering the county could be reduced to one centre based in Letterkenny.

That could mean one car to cover all areas of Donegal.

Raising the issue,  Deputy Charlie McConalogue said the people of Donegal wanted complete clarity on the future of the NoWOC service……..

In reply, the Minister for State for Primary Care said there are no plans to cut NoW DOC services in Donegal.

Roisin Shortall said while HSE West is currently reviewing the service, cuts are not on the agenda ……