A clinic is taking place in the North Sligo area for those wishing to apply to the Defective Concrete Block Scheme.

While Donegal and Mayo are said to be the worst affected counties, it's thought that there are hundreds of homeowners in County Sligo also impacted.

The clinic, which has been arranged for Monday July 21st in Grange Hall will advise people of the online application process.

Cathaoirleach of the Sligo Drumcliff MD Independent Cllr Marie Casserly says it will be a hugely beneficial event:

Irish Water has been accused of starving Donegal County Council of information.

It comes off the back of calls for a public meeting between Irish Water and Councillors, after numerous outages across the County over the weekend.

It's also been claimed that despite pleas for a number of water tankers to be sent to west Donegal due to a vast outage, Irish Water refused.

Speaking to Ocean FM news, Cllr Michael McClafferty says the service is totally inadequate and its time the utility was held accountable in a public setting:

Both Sligo County Council and the Government have come under fire after new applications for a number of grants have been paused in County Sligo.

The local authority say that it's due to the success of the scheme which in turn has resulted in a very significant demand.

New applications for Housing Adaptation Grants for Disabled People, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People Grants have all been suspended other than applications that meet Priority 1 criteria.

This measure will take place with immediate effect.

Cllr Michael Clarke claims that he and other local representatives were not briefed prior to the decision being made and says he's absolutely outraged:

The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council has launched a scathing attack on a small cohort of wild campers at Lissadell Beach.

The people in question left a substantial amount of rubbish behind them at the beauty spot over the weekend.

Bags of rubbish, empty bottles and clothing were all discarded.

Local Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy this is one of a number of similar incidents reported to him in recent days.

He is warning that the actions will end up spoiling it for everyone going forward:

A Sligo Councillor has expressed his disappointment with Bus Eireann's failure to collect some Night-time passengers in Sligo.

It's claimed that a passenger was not collected recently by the night-time Airport Bus route 23 which failed to stop at the designated stop in Castlebaldwin.

Sligo Fine Gael Councillor, Dara Mulvey says he was contacted by an elderly passenger who was left stranded at the Stop in Castlebaldwin as the bus continued on its route towards the capital.

The woman subsequently had to call a friend to transport her to Dublin Airport.

Cllr Mulvey says he is disappointed with the problems on route 23 service.

The lifeboat station in Bundoran was blocked over the weekend.

There were several incidents where vehicles parked on the pier, potentially preventing the lifeboat being able to launch in the event of an emergency.

The RNLI has issued an urgent appeal to motorists that this kind of behaviour could seriously impact the response to a life or death situation.

Killian O'Kelly from Bundoran RNLI says people need to be more aware of the consequences of their actions:

A former Publican in the North West says many pubs will have to rebrand their businesses or risk going to the wall in the coming years.

Cllr Enda McGloin issued the warning after a new report published today found that In the North West Region alone over 200 pubs have closed over the past 20 years.

 In Sligo 45 pubs have closed since 2005.  44 have ceased trading in Leitrim while in Donegal the number stands at 119.

The report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs with one in four - closing their doors since 2005.

The Fine Gael Councillor says many rural pubs are facing challenging times ahead:

There are renewed calls this week on Sligo County Council to revisit part of the Strandhill Enhancement Plan.

 It’s one week on since the majority of Cllrs voted in favour of the proposal moving forward which includes removing some car parking spaces along the shore front and adding more spaces in the upper car park.

 A petition, calling to save shore access in Strandhill has already garnered hundreds of signatures.

 One of the three Cllrs who voted against the plans is Fianna Fail Cllr Tom MacSharry who is making a further appeal to the local authority to think long and hard about proceeding with what is currently on the table:

People Before Profit Cllr Gino O’Boyle is the new Mayor of the Sligo Borough.

He succeeds outgoing Mayor Fianna Fáil Cllr Tom MacSharry in the role.

Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons take up the position of Deputy Mayor for the year ahead.

Speaking to Ocean FM news, the new Mayor Cllr O’Boyle says it’s an honour in what is a poignant year for his family

The 100 Redress Group in Donegal have confirmed that they will be backing the independent Galway-West TD, Catherine Connolly in the upcoming presidential election.

Donegal Deputy Charles Ward of the 100% Redress Party has officially nominated her for the role adding that he believes Deputy Connolly is the only candidate with a true independent voice for Ireland.

Deputy Connolly, an Independent, is expected to officially announce her candidacy next week.

She has already received a nomination from the Social Democrats and requires the backing of 20 members of the Oireachtas to get on the Presidential election ballot paper.

 Speaking to Ocean FM the Donegal Independent TD, and 100 Redress member, Deputy Charles Ward outlined whey they will be supporting Catherine Connolly in the upcoming election: