A Donegal Councillor has expressed his disappointment with reports of how teachers were denied the opportunity to voice concerns about the future of the Donegal Education Centre at a meeting in Letterkenny last night.

Independent Councillor Jimmy Brogan says many teachers at the facility which is currently based in Donegal Town were left frustrated after last night’s AGM.

Cllr Brogan claims that half the teachers had to walk out after being completely shut down and ignored

He says the management committee refused to answer many legitimate questions from the teachers and that a motion from the floor proposed and seconded was completely ignored and blocked without a vote.

Frustration is said to be building in among north Leitrim families trying to get home help hours for their loved ones.

Latest figures show that home Support is provided to a total of 539 service users in County Leitrim. 

There's also a rolling recruitment campaign ongoing in the area.

Local Independent Cllr Felim Gurn believes the HSE is not taking the issue seriously enough and is calling on them to ramp up recruitment.

He says there are many people locally who face the prospect of a nursing home as they not getting a sufficient service:

The tender process for the construction of the Tubbercurry Primary Care Centre is expected to take place in the coming months.

The centre will be provided through the HSE Capital Plan and has is currently at design stage which is said to be nearing completion.

The facility has been deemed critical towards alleviating pressures at Sligo University Hospital and providing essential care to the community of Tubbercurry and wider south Sligo area.

Fianna Fail TD Eamon Scanlon says the project is moving at pace and that is hugely positive:

Sligo U20 gaelic football manager Paul Henry gives his assessment of Wednesday evening's 1-16 to 0-10 loss to Roscommon in their opening game of this year's Connacht U20 championship.

A number of stations along the Sligo to Dublin train line will see accessibility improvements in the coming months.

Work will commence in the summer on Boyle station, and an application has been filed for Dromod.

It is part of an Irish Rail initiative to increase inclusivity for all passengers, while also partnering with the 'Elephant in the Room' campaign to promote awareness, and reduce stigma in public spaces.

Jane Cregan, of Irish Rail, highlighted the importance of the developments across Ireland:

Almost 60 patients at Sligo's pain clinic have been sent to private hospitals for procedures.

It comes as recruitment to fill the two consultant post at the clinic is still ongoing - almost a year on from when the positions were initially vacated.

Shortlisting for the consultant position in pain services is said to be taking place this week.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Declan Bree says while there does finally seem to be some progress, its taking far too long to get the necessary people recruited.

All the while, Cllr Bree says many local people are suffering, a situation which is entirely unacceptable:

Irish language and Gaeltacht groups are calling for increased funding in the north and south.

It comes after Foras na Gaeilge announced funding cuts of over 817 thousand euro at the end of January.

A protest was held outside Leinster House this lunchtime, urging the body to reverse the cuts, and calling for the Government to provide an additional 20 million euro, at least.

Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, says urgent action is needed:

It’s emerged there was no physical assaults by prisoners on either fellow prisoners or staff at Loughan House in 2024.

That is a reduction of one on 2023 figures.

Official figures published by the Irish Prison Service, however, do show an overall 31 per cent rise in “prisoner-on-prisoner direct physical assaults” within the Irish prison system between 2023 and 2024.

There are now 5,268 prisoners in custody nationally, which is 114 per cent of bed capacity.

Dromahair native and Prison Officers’ Association’s deputy general secretary, Gabriel Keaveny says the problem of assaults comes back to overcrowding.

It's felt that an agreement to move the Donegal Education Centre to Letterkenny is not a done deal.

ATU and the CEO of the Donegal Education and Training Board have signalled their support for the imminent move from Donegal Town to Letterkenny.

While the business plan was made available earlier this week with several key elements of it redacted.

Donegal TD Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher attended both public meetings in relation to the centre's relocation.

He feels greater moves may have to be made to halt it:

A Sligo Leitrim Government TD has called into question the behaviour of some opposition members yesterday that have been accused of bullying the Ceann Comhairle.

The Dáil resumed earlier today after being suspended amid chaotic scenes yesterday.

Opposition leaders are meeting today to consider a motion of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.

More disruption is expected in the Dail later with both sides at an impasse over speaking rights.

The Government voted through new speaking time rules which gives slots to backbench coalition TDs and independents who support them.

Sligo Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan again the disruption of the Dáil was another bad for Irish Politics