Thousands of short term lettings in the north west will not be able to operate legally this weekend.

Emergency legislation was approved this week to extend Rent Pressure Zones to the entire country.

Short-term lets such as Airbnb are required to have planning permission in order to operate, depending on how long they are renting out for.

Derek Keogh, Chair of the Irish Self-Catering Federation, says there are some positive things to come out this.

A long-serving Leitrim Postmistress says the future of many small post offices in the north west is far from certain.

The comments come as it emerged that Ireland's Post Office network needs €15-million euro per year for the next five years to secure essential community services.

A Grant Thornton report out today calculates the annual social and economic value of the network to communities across the country as being in the region of €776 million euro.

Drumkeerin Post mistress and Local Councillor May Bohan that the way people are conducting transactions has changed over the years and Post Offices have suffered.

She fears even with such a significant investment many post offices with a small customer base could struggle to survive

People across the North West are being asked to listen to comments made by a senior local authority official over holiday homes.

The director of services for housing and roads at Mayo County Council sent an email to members of his local authority committee last week, urging the community boycott of holiday home owners.

Tom Gilligan says the properties are left empty for large parts of the year, and should instead be brought into use to solve the housing crisis.

Donegal Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig believes that what Mr. Gilligan has merit and requires some thought:

There are calls for dental hygienist courses to be available from the ATU campus in Killybegs.

There's said to be a massive demand for but not enough people trained and employed in the role.

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle says the amount of courses need to be multiplied in the North West and elsewhere.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Boyle more opportunities need to be made available for students locally:

The Government and the HSE are being accused for a creating a 'disaster zone' within North West health service.

The issue is said to centre on a lack of home care assistance available in Donegal, with further claims that recruitment in the county is being prevented.

Speaking in the Dail, Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn says that's leading to a wider crisis in Letterkenny University Hospital.

He also warned against the privatisation of the home care system in the region:

It's hoped that this week's verdict in a case over external insulation will ease fears in Sligo over the so-called wraparound scheme.

A Dublin couple were initially told that their external insulation is in breach of planning conditions and that they must remove it by June or face a fine or imprisonment.

They have since been granted permission to retain it.

Mayor of Sligo Borough and local Fianna Fail Cllr Tom MacSharry says it was the right call and anticipates that it will allay fears among people locally looking to access the scheme:

There are calls for water safety and swimming lessons to be incorporated into primary education in Ireland.

It comes in the wake of two tragic incidents in the water in the North West in recent weeks.

Seven year old Alan Singh lost his life following an incident in the water near Lissadell Beach on Saturday, one week on from two teenage boys losing their lives in Buncrana County Donegal.

With National Water Safety Awareness week underway, Fianna Fail Senator Alison Comyn feels that more needs to be done to prevent such tragedy from happening again:

Showing unity with migrants is the main focus at today's National Integration Conference in Dublin.

The Immigrant Council will hold its 6th annual gathering to discuss how to improve integration efforts here.

Human rights experts from here and abroad will address the convention at a time when anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise.

A number of areas throughout the Country including some in the North West have witnessed a number of demonstrations being staged in opposition to International Protection applicants being accommodated in provision centres.

Immigrant Council CEO Teresa Buczkowska says they want to show that Ireland is still the country of the Cead Mile Failte.

Hairdressers, stylists, barbers and nail technicians across Donegal have taken training to recognise signs of domestic abuse.


More than 50 representatives attended a training event run by multiple agencies yesterday.


The HSE says salon or barber staff have often built up a trust with their customers.


HSE Addiction Services Lead, Donna McGee explains how the idea came about:

A school in Manorhamilton has been granted planning permission to develop an extension.

St Clare’s National School received the approval from Leitrim County Council, and can now turn their attention towards the works.

The extension will include one SEN classroom, three SET rooms, an office, ancillary rooms, and increased car park capacity.

Independent Manorhamilton Cllr James Gilmartin says it’s great news for the area and praised all those involved: