There are calls in Donegal for Nowdoc to be given access to patient’s records.

As an issue has been highlighted where some elderly patients didn’t know their medication when visiting Nowdoc, who also had no digital records to assist them.

It’s thought that sharing the information with Nowdoc would speed up the service and encourage more to avail of it.

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle says some people find the current situation to be very frustrating:

ATU has received €1 million as part of the Higher Education Authority funding.

The allocation is in recognition of addressing skills needs in the biopharmaceutical industry sector through its long-standing partnership with the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research & Training

It’s hoped that this invest will be repaid through attract future biopharma investments inro Ireland.

Professor Neville McClenaghan, Head of Department of Life Sciences at ATU, has welcomed the funding and what it means for the college:

Huge disappointment has been expressed locally over the latest allocation to address the coastal erosion in Strandhill.

€30,000 has been granted to fund further studies into the issue, however it’s understood that an application had been lodged for just under €800,000.

There is strong support in the area for rock armour to be installed and prevent further erosion of the coast.

Mayor of the Sligo Borough District, Cllr Tom MacSharry says it’s a time-sensitive issue and action is needed urgently:

A replacement fence will not be installed at a housing estate in Ballymote due to a lack of local funds.

The current fence at Bother an Corran runs alongside a river, and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Although it now poses a potential safety hazard, it’s thought that the cost of addressing the issue would cost around €20,000.

Local Fine Gael Cllr Gerard Mullaney says the situation is a disgrace:

There’s been a large turnout so far for the Donegal Town Honorary Mayor election.

Voting got underway at 10am this morning at the St John Bosco Centre, with a queue waiting outside.

Once voting concludes at 7pm, the count will immediately begin, in the presence of the five candidates. Which are Billy Bustard, Justin Coughlin, Anna Gallagher, Ciara Martin and Gabriel O'Donnell.

Mary McGettigan, of Donegal Town Community Chamber, praised all the candidates for their efforts:

County Sligo is to get €10.2 million for national roads.

It's part of a €633 million national funding pot announced by the Department of Transport today.

Among the local highlights include 1.8 million for the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin road, 2.1 million for the N16 road realignment while the N17 is getting one million euro to keep it on the National Development Plan.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh is a little disappointed with the N17 allocation as it was anticipated locally that it would be more:

A community in Sligo is said to be traumatised over a suspected petrol bomb attack.

The incident happened in the Cranmore area in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A house was engulfed in flames after a petrol bomb was thrown through a downstairs window.

It's not yet known if the house was occupied at the time.

Gardai say that investigations are ongoing and no arrests have yet been made.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons has condemned the incident:

Serious concern has been raised over disparities in waiting times for respiratory appointments in North West Hospitals.

While there is no significant waiting list for such appointments at Sligo University Hospital, the current waiting time for a first appointment at Letterkenny is 18-21 months.

The HSE has stated that they continue to strive to reduce the waiting times at Letterkenny and have engaged in a number of initiatives.

But Independent Cllr Declan Meehan believes that Letterkenny clearly needs to analysise whats being done in the likes of Sligo elsewhere:

A Sligo County councillor and former General Election candidate is urging the public to have their say on the future use of posters in elections and referendums

The Electoral Commission is looking for the public's view on the issue. It's part of research into their use and the rules surrounding them.

Previously concerns have been raised on environmental impacts, visual pollution and safety concerns around posters.

Cllr Marie Casserly has decided against using posters during the Council election campaigns/

She says it's too late for the public to complain at the time of elections and the independent councillor is urging to have their say before the deadline for submissions on Friday May 9th.

A greenfield site has been identified as a potential location for surgical hub in the north west.

Currently, a business case is being updated with it expected to be submitted nationally be early April.

The Programme for Government previously committed to explore the provision of one additional surgical hub for the north west in a timely manner.

Councillor Edel McSharry says its high time there would be such a facility locally.

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