Full support has been given by Sligo County Council for regular competency tests to be required of drivers.

This is with the aim of reducing the number of serious injuries and deaths on Irish roads.

It's thought that the new rules may only apply to new drivers in the future.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Donal Gilroy says that you can't put a value on a person's life:

There are calls for a dedicated derelict sites unit to enforce levies in Sligo.

This follows a report in the Irish Times last month, that showed derelict site owners in Sligo are not being levied.

While its been highlighted that Limerick's derelict sites unit collected just under €300,000 in 2023 alone.

Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon says with the current housing crisis, this must be addressed as a matter of urgency:

Urgent clarity is being sought over the progress of student accommodation being developed by ATU Sligo.

A sale has been agreed between Sligo County Council and the ATU over 16 acres of land at Ardaghowen.

This was with the condition that a portion of the land be dedicated to student accommodation.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh is looking for a timeline of the works:

A public meeting over GAEC Two and Nature Restoration in the north west is to take place in Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday evening.

There's major confusion locally over the schemes with farmers voicing their concerns on how it could impact their locality.

Under new GAEC Two rules, any land that is recorded as being over 50% peatland, will be considered as 100% peatland.

This has caused confusion over how people can legally farm their land, due to restrictions around peatland.

Sligo IFA Chairperson Michael O'Dowd is hopeful the meeting will provide further clarity to those effected:

It's emerged around 50 workers in Killybegs lost two days' pay at weekend.

It's after 750 tonnes of blue whiting which was destined for processing for human consumption at a local factory was forced to send it for fish meal.

The issue, which is said to centre on controversial rules and regulations has ultimately resulted in a massive loss of export to the local industry.

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle described the situation as outrageous and is calling for the Government to urgently step in:

It's thought that shoplifting in Sligo goes underreported.

It comes as there's said to have been a significant increase in shoplifting across Sligo and Leitrim.

According to CSO figures, there were 185 recorded incidents in the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Division in 2003.

This grew to 479 recorded incidents of shoplifting in Sligo/Leitrim in 2024, an increase of 159%.

Between 2023 and last year, there was a further 23% rise.

But local businessman Finbarr Filan believes that the issue runs even deeper:

House prices across Donegal were among those to have increased exponentially in the last year.

The last MyHome.ie Property Price Report shows prices have risen by over 32 thousand 500 euro compared with this time last year.

The median asking price for a property in the county is now 242 and half thousand euro.

Prices in Leitrim have risen by over 13 thousand euro while the prices in Sligo have remained unchanged on this this time last year.

Author of the report, Joanne Geary has outlined just some of the reasons behind the large growth in Donegal

Urgent clarity is being sought over the progress of student accommodation being developed by ATU Sligo.

A sale has been agreed between Sligo County Council and the ATU over 16 acres of land at Ardaghowen.

This was with the condition that a portion of the land be dedicated to student accommodation.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh is looking for a timeline of the works:

A feasibility study into a new rail line between Collooney and Charlestown has been rejected.

The previous government committed to the reopening of the Claremorris to Athenry line, with the reopening of the Claremorris-Collooney section ruled out.

A motion was raised before Sligo County Council today for a route alongside the new N17.

It was defeated by 10 votes to 4, with reasons cited such as it posing a delay to the N17 developments, and that the old rail could still accommodate future trains.

Independent Cllr Marie Casserly says the old line is not feasible and feels that an opportunity has been missed:

The wildfire at Barnesmore Gap is under control this lunchtime.

The blaze initially broke out at yesterday evening.

Director of Emergency services at Donegal County Council Garry Martin has been speaking to Ocean FM news this afternoon.

He has also issued a warning with the dry spell set to continue: