A Donegal man has put forward his case that Vehicle Registration Tax is illegal to the European Petitions Committee.

Inishowen man, Ryan Stewart put forward his case to the European Court of Justice in Brussels last week.

The European Petitions Committee are supportive of the VRT petition and they are in agreement they are infringements of peoples freedom of movement.

Mr Stewart said the Petitions Committee are to write to both the Irish and UK Governments to try find a resolution to VRT…..

Efforts are to be made to boost Donegal’s number of blue flag beaches.

Councillor Liam Blaney says that with a relatively small outlay, Donegal could easily move up the country’s  table.

He says the county could get a significant boost with more blue flag beaches:

A Donegal County Councillor says the government should challenge the EU directive which has led to the introduction of the new septic tank legislation.

Councillor Ian McGarvey says a situation can’t be allowed develop where people can’t sell their homes if their septic tank doesn’t meet new regulations.

Some experts claim people in rural Ireland could face bills of up to €12,000 to upgrade their tanks.

Raising the issue at Donegal County Council’s monthly meeting, Cllr McGarvey says that can’t be allowed happen………..

The “High Level Group on Job Creation in the Killybegs Region” is defending its report, published last week. The group was established in June and asked to submit a report by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney.

Killybegs Fishermens Organisation CEO Sean O’Donaghue is chairperson of the group which drew up the jobs strategy criticised this morning by local TD Thomas Pringle.

He says of a target of 250 jobs, 80 jobs have been identified, but no-one ever said they were already on stream.

Mr O’Donaghue says the report looks at a number of specific areas including tourism, offshore services and processing, as well as harbour management, and its recommendations have the potential to bring Killybegs forward…………..

The development of a swimming pool in Stranorlar has taken a major step forward today with the Council approving the go ahead for a €1.9 million loan.

The facility is to cost €6.8 million. The council has spent €1.8 million to date and a grant of €3.8 million has already been approved for the project.

The loan of almost €2 million will cover the remaining costs.

The work proposed includes a 25m x 5m lane swimming pool, children’s pool, plunge pool, changing facilities, sauna and steam rooms and family social area.

Local Cllr Patrick McGowan, said work should begin in the New Year once a contract has been signed…..

Roadside checks for drug-driving could be on the way from early in the New Year.

The Irish Times this morning reports the tests will be fast-tracked as part of a crackdown on driving under the influence of prescription and illegal substances.

Former Letterkenny Councillor PJ Blake is a member of the North West Regional Drugs Group, and has been a regular campaigner on this issue for many years.

He says whole any focus on drug driving is to be welcomed, the fact remains that this new strategy does not provide for reliable electronic testing methods, and that remains a barrier to taking cases……….

Independent TD Thomas Pringle has expressed disappointment after reading the High Level Report on employment prospects in Killybegs.

He says hopes were raised hugely when the chairperson of the group announced last week that eighty jobs had already been created by the report.

He says many people expecting concrete commitments were disappointed to find that the jobs may be delivered over the coming years as grand aid is rolled out, and are not on the ground at the moment.

Deputy Pringle says premature announcements which exaggerate prospects will not help the situation…….

The numbers of people heading North for their Christmas shopping is set to increase this year.

That’s according to new research from AA Travel Insurance.

Of the 11,500 people surveyed almost 18 per cent said they were planning to do so this year – that’s up two per cent from this time last year.

The main reasons given for visiting Northern Ireland are to shop for alcohol, groceries and gifts in advance of Christmas.

The poll, which asked a series of questions in line with those asked this time last year, indicates that despite a 14% increase in the price of unleaded petrol and a 16% increase in diesel year on year, the lure of cheaper prices is still tempting many people to head across the border to save on their Christmas shopping bill.

While cross border traffic between counties such as Donegal and Derry remains high, the poll suggests that  more people are considering more frequent shopping trips across the border if the anticipated 2% increase in VAT is imposed in next month’s budget.

The AA Travel Insurance poll also suggests that those planning to do some Christmas shopping further afield has dropped marginally year on year from 12% to 11%.

It’s emerged that the North West had the highest number of alcohol related mental disorders last year, while on a county by county breakdown, Donegal had the second highest proportion with 60 per 100,000. The highest was in Sligo – Leitrim with 97.

Health Research Board figures quoted in the Donegal News show Letterkenny General Hospital had 83 people admitted withy alcohol related mental health disorders, with a further 22 admitted for other drug related disorders.

For the second time in less than a week, outpatient appointments at Letterkenny General Hospital are being cancelled as a result of overcrowding.

There are a number of patients on trollies in the Outpatients Department, and as a result, Mr Couse’s surgical clinic has been cancelled. Orthopedic clinics will go ahead today, and at present, its intended that all other clinics will also go ahead. If that changes, patients will be notified directly.

Once again, people are being urged to avoid A&E unless absolutely necessary, and to use their GP or the NoWDOC service in the first instance.