A Sligo Leitrim TD says plans to delay the introduction of the auto-enrolment pension scheme could leave many workers struggling to make ends meet when they reach retirement age.

It now seems likely that the scheme will not be introduced as planned in September as planned

The delay is due to administration issues.

The scheme will apply to almost 800 thousand workers between the ages of 23 and 60 who are employed but not enrolled in a pension.

Sligo Leitrim Deputy Martin Kenny says the delay in introducing the scheme could lead to many experiencing a sharp fall in income once they retire.

The Sinn Fein Deputy Is also warning that the delays in introducing the scheme has the potential to damange the economy in the future.

A teenager killed in a road collision in County Leitrim yesterday has been described as 'one of the finest young men' of his parish.

The 18 year old was pronounced dead at the scene after the tractor he was a passenger in crashed near Carrigallen.

Another teenager who was driving the tractor is being treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

The road is still closed this morning and Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.

Local Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy O'Rourke says the community are numbed by what has happened:

Accessible mobility mats have been requested to be installed at all Blue Flag beaches in Sligo.

It's with the aim of ensuring that people with disabilities would have the same opportunities to access local beaches as everyone else.

It's understood that recently a number of local residents who are wheelchair users were unable to visit areas such as Strandhill and Rosses Point.

Labour Cllr Ann Higgins says Sligo needs to be inclusive for all in the community:

Serious concern has been raised over waiting lists at Sligo University Hospital.

New figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show that almost 1,500 people have been waiting over 18 months for treatment in Sligo.

The figure includes 124 children.

Meanwhile, new targets were set out earlier this year to cut waiting lists in Sligo and elsewhere.

The North West and other health regions also have to develop a Regional Waiting List Action Plan, to show how the national targets can be delivered in their areas.

Local Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says the root of the problem is ultimately demand outweighing capacity:

A former Donegal Garda Sergeant highlighted that long-term solutions are needed to recruit and retain Garda numbers.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors have recently called for incentives for Gardai in relation to taxes and gym memberships.

There is pressure on the government to address the issue of dwindling Garda numbers, as it’s understood around 100 Gardai have left the force so far this year.

Retired Garda Sergeant, Christy Galligan, the incentives are welcome but the problems are deep-rooted:

It's claimed that a number of children could be buried in unmarked graves in Sligo from when Mother and Baby homes were in operation.

It comes as six of the eight religious bodies that had a historical involvement in mother and baby homes have failed to offer financial contributions to a government-backed redress scheme.

The Government has expressed disappointment over the developments, but local People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle believes now is the time to seize church assets.

Cllr O'Boyle also believes that more investigations need to take place at a local level:

A major warning has been sounded over pedestrian safety in Manorhamilton.

The issue is said to be centre on a lack of a footbridge at Sean Mac Diarmada Street and despite money being allocated some years back, the project is said to have stalled.

It's hoped other works taking place locally will result in a renewed focus on the proposed bridge.

Local Independent Cllr Felim Gurn says the issue has dragged on long enough and every effort must be made to finally get it over the line:

The Education Minister has been further accused of washing her hands of the Donegal Education Centre debacle.

The move from Donegal Town to Letterkenny looks almost certain, although it had been thought that that was to happen at the end of last month.

The Department of Educations stance has always been that the responsibility of making any such decision lies solely with the management committee.

But Local Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan believes that that was a cop out from Minister Helen McEntee and that more support should have been given to the women directly impacted:

A Sligo based TD has expressed the view that key infrastructure projects in the North West could be delivered sooner than expected due to the creation of a new infrastructure division in Government.

Cabinet will get details today of the new division that will examine blockages to infrastructure.

Experts from across Government will be seconded to the new Infrastructure Division which will feed in to an accelerating infrastructure task force, headed by Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers.

Sligo Leitrim Deputy Frank Feighan says there are number of key local projects he will be making sure that will be kept under consideration by the new department

A petition, calling for the Strandhill Market to reopen, has already garnered thousands of signatures.

The campaign itself is also gaining momentum with many traders voicing their concern over being effectively displaced.

The market is usually held in hangar one at Sligo Airport but the amenity has been reassigned, with the market now on hold.

Tony Osborne - painter and one of the traders has been speaking to reporter David O'Connor in Strandhill this afternoon: