The waiting list for driving tests in Sligo has been described as shameful.

It comes as new figures show that a total of 1,135 people were waiting for a test in Sligo as of the end of March.

Nationally there were over 81,000 people waiting.

Labour Cllr Ann Higgins described the situation as having a detrimental effect on young people in the county.

Cllr Higgins is calling on the Government to sort the issue out once and for all:

Gardai are warning that motorists are more likely to be involved in a serious collision on the Friday of a bank holiday.

A new road safety operation has got underway across the North West this morning.

Throughout the counties of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal Gardai will be focusing on offences such as speeding, phone use, and driving under the influence.

Director of Partnerships at the Road Safety Authority, Sarah O'Connor says it's about getting the message out there about bad driving behaviours:

Austin O'Callaghan introduces Ocean FM Sport's preview of the 2025 Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Championship - live from Co Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point.

With contributions from Tournament Director Enda Lonergan, Club Captain Robbie Fitzpatrick, Kevin & Shane Flanagan and Irish Golfer Magazine journalist Mark McGowan.

Plus - former golf instructor Anthony Gray shares his memories of playing an exhibition game with Rory McIlroy at Tubbercurry Golf Club.

Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are set to escape the worst of the heavy rainfall over the weekend.

It comes as several parts of the country have been issued status yellow alerts.

Met Éireann has forecast heavy showers and spot flooding, particularly in the South and West.

Deirdre Lowe, Meteorologist with Met Éireann, says the first warning takes effect tonight:

Local support has been given following the government decision to not use the Leitrim Marina Hotel as accommodation for international protection applicants.

The Leitrim Village based hotel had been offered to the Department of Integration as it has been used previously to provide safety to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

However following this latest decision, it is hoped the services will return to the tourism industry.

Sligo-Leitrim Minister of State Marian Harkin has welcomed the move:

It's thought that additional funding will be needed to get coastal erosion works completed at Inver.

It comes as the OPW has sanctioned €45,000 for planned works there which include constructing a row of rock armour.

The money has been awarded under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle thinks a lot more will be needed to get the project over the line:

It's emerged that up to 150 farmers face financial losses over the wildfire at Barnesmore Gap.

The blaze ravaged through the hillside the weekend before last, destroying a vast amount of land in its wake - a lot of which is claimed as commonage by local farmers.

Now single farm payments are being held following the fire.

Local Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton says it's totally unfair that farmers should be penalised for something that wasn't their fault:

A Leitrim Councillor has again expressed his frustration with the current HAP rental scheme that is currently in place.

Sinn Fein Councillor Padraig Fallon’s come as a new report has found that there are currently no properties available to rent under the scheme in Sligo town or the entire County of Leitrim.

Simon's latest Locked Out of the Market report also found that out of 1,119 properties in 16 areas across the country, only 41 were available for those on the Housing Assistance Payment scheme.

peaking to Ocean FM Councillor Fallon says the scheme is not fit for purpose:

A Donegal TD has shared their disappointment over a lack of public representatives present at defective-concrete block meeting.

The Critical Defective Concrete Conference 2025 was held this week, highlighting the crisis impacting homeowners in the region.

100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward attended the event, but was unhappy with the turnout of public officials.

Deputy Ward says there needs to be more unity over the issue within the county:

A Sligo Leitrim TD says there is a ‘legacy of inadequate mental health care’ in the Country and in particular here in the North West.

The comments from Deputy Martin Kenny come as new findings show the quality of mental health care in hospital emergency departments depends on where you live with substantial variations in services provided in ED's across the country and especially for ‘out-of-hours’ assessment.

The study was carried out by the Inspector of Mental Health Services

It found that some patients travel long distances for urgent care, which cannot be guaranteed on their arrival.

Sinn Fein’s Martin Kenny says the failure to provide proper and effective mental health care in a timely fashion has led to a loss of life in some extreme cases