Over 50,000 people across Donegal will receive a January bonus this week as part of the Department of Social Protection’s efforts to support people with the cost of living. A Double Lump Sum Payment will be issued to pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and low income families. The payment was announced by Minister […]
Over quarter of a million calls for help to SVP in 2023
Last year the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) received just over a quarter of a million calls for help to its regional offices and local Conferences throughout the country. This was a 10% increase on the calls for help received in 2022. The bulk of the calls, just over 90,000 (36%), requested help […]
Rural businesses suffering due to lack of public transport
A RAMELTON business has highlighted the damaging effects of not having a local taxi service after they found customers weren’t booking due to the struggle of getting home. Opening their doors in 2021, the Bridge Bar Restaurant has been offering simple, locally inspired seasonal menus weekly, from Thursday to Sunday. However, when they noticed customers […]
Rising costs leads to the closure of Sprint Educational Supplies
Sprint Educational Supplies, a popular stationary shop with stores in Letterkenny and Donegal Town, has announced their closure. In a post online Sprint told customers that due to the rising costs associated with running a small business they had no choice but to close both shops on October, 31. “Since we took over the stores […]
€200 Cost of Living Support to be paid this week
A €200 Cost of Living Support will be paid to some 1.3 million people this week. Payments totalling €260 million will be made to groups such as pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and working families. Recipients will receive €200 in addition to their normal weekly payment. Advertisement On Wednesday, some 158,000 people in […]
The crippling cost of living crisis impacts students in Letterkenny
MORE students than ever at ATU Donegal are being forced to use foodbanks because of the crippling cost of living crisis, the Students’ Union has said. ATU Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer Barry Breslin told the Donegal News he has also seen an increase in students turning to the university’s counselling service, given the difficulties of […]
SVP says temporary supports welcome but not sufficient for households in crisis
The government has announced a €400 million support package today for social protection measures. The measures include a lump sum child benefit payment of €100 per child to be paid in June, and a €200 lump sum to be paid in April to all long-term social welfare recipients. In July there will be a one-off […]
Over €600,000 granted to community groups to help with increased inflation
Eighty seven Donegal voluntary and community providers will receive total funding of €625k from the Government’s ‘Inflation Fund’. Community-based and voluntary health and social care providers are being allocated the funding on a once-off basis as part of Government measures to ease cost-of-living pressures. At Budget 2023, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced […]
Pringle hits out government over ‘subsidised energy companies’
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has hit out at the government as he claims it subsidised energy companies at the expense of its own citizens. Addressing the Dáil today, Deputy Pringle said: “Last month, Europe’s gas prices returned to pre-war levels, yet citizens’ bills continue to soar while energy companies make eye-watering profits. The […]
Council passes €175m Budget for 2023
Yesterday Donegal County Council passed its revenue budget for 2023. The total expenditure forecast for next year is €175,555,907. This equals €480,975 daily expenditure or €1,056 council expenditure per citizen. The meeting heard that the cost increases experienced in the previous two years during the Covid pandemic did not ease and instead have worsened. Advertisement […]