Wicklow News

Just 12 months after announcing a €1 Billion investment in two Data centres in Arklow and Dublin, Echelon Data Centres has revealed plans to develop a second data centre in the town, representing a further €500 million euro investment by the company.

Wicklow’s Simon Harris will be defending his work over the past few years, as opposition parties target him, and his party colleagues Eoghan Murphy and Joe McHugh, with Health, Housing and Education on the agenda for day three of the general election campaign.

The National Youth Council is making a last call to 700-thousand young people in Wicklow and around the country to make sure they're registered to vote.

A general election will be held on Saturday February the 8th with just under 98,000 on the electorate in County Wicklow.

The British based company won the contract to operate 10% of routes previously operated by Dublin Bus, primarily in the outer Dublin metropolitan area.

The 'How Much is Your House Worth?' guide to the property market highlights house type, condition and loan availability as new factors influencing prices.

The office of Public Works has lodged plans with Wicklow County Council for the redevelopment of the coastguard station.

BOY B’s appeal against his conviction for the murder of Ana Kriegel will be heard on April 24th.

76 drivers were registered as disqualified last year having reached the quota of points - that’s compared to 47 the previous year.

Arklow Municipal District has voted to ban election posters in certain areas during this year’s General election.

Gardaí in Arklow are investigating reports of online threats made towards a school in the town.  

Kieran Greene denies murdering 61-year-old grandmother Patricia O’Connor at the home they shared at Mountainview Park in Rathfarnham in May 2017.

Demonstrators are demanding a better price for their beef, but the Department of Agriculture says it has no comment to make on the action.

They found the quality of water in these sources - mostly sourced from wells - is poorer than in public supplies.

Verona Murphy has kicked off her general election campaign stating that she is "not a racist."

It's one of the findings of a new report which outlines what actions local authorities are taking to tackle climate change

The NTA has been put in this role to strengthen the oversight of the projects.

Men’s Sheds organisations across Wicklow are to benefit from €1,300 in funding from the government.

Around 19 per cent of the country's regional roads need to be repaired.

A 32 year old Dublin man has appeared before Cloverhill District Court this morning in connection with a fatal attack on an Arklow woman last month.

Joker is leading this year's Academy Awards with 11 nominations. It's followed by The Irishman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917 which have 10 nods each.

The Irish Times reports the renowned art collector’s belongings will go under the hammer later this month.

The scheme is being funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

€1, 173, 819 in funding has been allocated to Wickllow Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre and Charlesland Athletics track in Greystones through the Community Services Programme.

The HSE will meet the operational costs of the facility and fundraising for capital costs and enhancements for patients and families will be driven by Our Lady’s Hospice And Care Services

Climate change will make up two-thirds of the projects at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

46 people died in workplace related incidents in 2019 according to the Health and Safety Authority. That  compares to 39 in 2018.

Two men have been questioned and released from custody following the discovery of around €42,000 worth of Cannabis herb and drug related paraphernalia at a property in North Wicklow two days ago.

The number of people employed in IDA backed companies has reached its highest level ever

The charter will commit local government to driving forward meaningful climate action in their communities, through the actions set out in the Climate Action Plan.

Figures show 290 million journeys were made on Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Luas and Go-Ahead services last year.

Councillor Sylvester Bourke had sought permission in June of last year to construct the Solar panel farm, including a transformer housing unit and substation building on just over two acres of his farm lands at KilliniskyDuff.

Talks between the HSE and the INMO are underway, as 621 patients wait for beds in hospitals.

Seal Rescue Ireland is calling for the period of the closure of a beach to the public on the outskirts of Wicklow town to be extended, to protect the seal colony using it.

Hundreds of childcare providers in Wicklow and across the country are planning to close their doors for 24 hours, in protest at what they say is a 'crisis' facing the sector.

New figures from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation show there are over 4,000 people in County Wicklow employed in Enterprise Ireland backed companies, representing an increase of 8% since 2016.

It followed a series of complaints from local residents which were raised with the Environmental Protection Agency by Sinn Fein T.D. John Brady.

The 81 year old, who had been ill in recent years, worked with RTÉ for over 50 years.

Marian Finucane has been described as an icon of Irish Broadcasting at her funeral mass in County Kildare.

The government's climate action Bill will make the transport, agriculture, and energy sectors significantly reduce carbon emissions over the next 10 years.

New homeless figures from the Department of Housing show there were 28 homeless in County Wicklow in November an increase from 25 living in emergency accommodation in October.

Boil water notices were imposed on 600-thousand people across the Greater Dublin area twice last year.

Over €350,000 has been provided to communities in rural and urban areas in Wicklow through the Community Enhancement Programme, supporting 75 projects.

People renting out properties for short-term letting could be fined 5,000 euro or jailed for six months from today. 

It comes following a demonstration of around 100 people outside the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street in Dublin yesterday.

Pressure is increasing on the Minister for Health Simon Harris and the HSE to solve the trolley crisis in hospitals.

The board of Ireland's largest dementia care home located just north of Bray has announced that it has been left with no option but to cease residential admissions with immediate effect.

Roy Webster from Ashbree in Ashford accused the judge of failing to properly direct the jury on a key part of his defence.

The project at Shanganagh is aiming to deliver 291 social and affordable homes and 307 rental units with long term leases.

Sports Minister Shane Ross called it shocking and said the FAI isn't fit to handle public funds.

Four new local electoral areas have been designated as Rent Pressure Zones from today.

Seven judges of the Supreme Court have spent the past few days listening to arguments in light of his successful challenge to a key ruling about data.

Tim Cullinan, a farmer from Tipperary, won the race last night to replace Joe Healy as president next month.

The smoky coal ban is to be extended to all towns with populations of more than 10,000 people.

The Minister for Education has confirmed the patronage of six new secondary schools to be established next year.

Eric Zhi Ying Mei Xue, a 5th class pupil in St Cronan’s, was born in Ireland, but he is not a citizen. 

The plan will identify what interventions and services are required to help the sustainable development of the area and ease traffic congestion.

The DSPCA is calling on the government to withdraw all funding to the greyhound industry understood to be around €16 million annually.

After a long battle there’s been a cautious welcome given to the news that Saint David’s secondary school in Greystones has been granted permission to go to tender for their new school buildings.

The National Bus and Rail Union is calling on the Minister for Transport Shane Ross to establish a new Garda Public Transport division to tackle the issue.

Mary Coughlan has threatened to stage a sit-in overproposals to expand the N11/M11 near her home here in Wicklow.

The figures are in the latest Rebuilding Ireland report, which the Housing Minister will present to an Oireachtas committee today.

Works to address the issue were due to go tender over the summer and take up to six months to complete.

Purple House Cancer support has been actively fundraising to secure a new permanent premises, which they say was achievable, following a commitment from Minister Harris to provide additional capital grant funding to help with the costs  for the new premises.

It's a big increase on 2018, when nearly 47 million euro was settled in the entire year.

Gardai are investigating two separate robberies on women in Greystones in the past five days.

20 new jobs are on the way to Rathnew by April next year,  with the opening of a new €3.75m  service station.

The cost of attending any of the 11 minor injury units around the country, including Saint Colmchille’s in Loughlinstown is to be reduced.

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland says any commission on the future of public service broadcasting must look beyond RTÉ.

52.8 per cent of surface water - which includes rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters - is in "satisfactory ecological health."

The town received a framed certificate and cash prize of €2,000.

The funding is part of the Destination Towns scheme allocated through Wicklow County Council.   

Management at the company which makes pet food announced last month their future prospects in Ireland were uncertain.

Irish County and City Councils published more financial and ethics-related information in 2019 than was the case last year.

According to the Irish Independent, 17 of the 151 low-frequency routes missed up to 27 targets between June 2017 and June 2019.

An international project involving local authorities in Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford with their counterparts in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in Wales has been launched today.

A new text alert system for Dart passengers is getting more than 60 messages a month.

Kildare man  Trevor Deely was 22 was last seen on Haddington Road in the early hours of December 8th 2000, after attending his job’s Christmas party.

The controversial €2 billion plan has been redesigned again, following a record 50,000 public submissions.

Fred Barry, the chairman of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, has given the Oireachtas health committee an update on the progress so far.

This report by the Banking and Payments Federation carries a stark warning.

The inquest into the death of Mark Hennessy, who abducted and killed Jastine Valdez, which was expected to resume today at the Dublin Coroner's Court, has been deferred until next January.

The Health Minister says he respects Lorraine Walsh's decision to resign from the CervicalCheck steering committee.

The Irish Times feeder school report shows if you go to a fee paying school, you're much more likely to go to college and get into a course with the highest points.

Figures compiled by Daft.ie reveal homes within a kilometre of rail or tram stations cost 15 per cent more.

Police in Wales are appealing to Irish families of missing people to provide them with DNA.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the expansion of new outdoor recreational projects.

An extra 5 thousand jobs are expected to be created in the tourism industry next year.

The funding, that will cover 2020 to 2024, will see increased service reliability and punctuality as well as improved journey times.

Voters in Dublin Fingal, Dublin Midwest, Cork North Central and Wexford had their say on who should be their new TDs yesterday.

The contract is worth in excess of €800 million, over 5 years includes delivery of services for 218 routes nationally with excess of 220 million customer journeys to be provided over the course of the contract

This is the second massive protest planned in Dublin, after over 20,000 people protested over climate change on the 20th of September, saying climate action needs to take place now.

The Property has been sold after being closed for a number of years.

Mywaste.ie has been set up in a bid to tackle illegal dumping.

The architect’s three-bedroom house is located at the end of a cul-de-sac off Kerrymount Avenue in Foxrock with an asking price of €595,000.

Two angling initiatives in Wicklow are to benefit from funding awarded through Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Gardai have begun night-time air patrols in Wicklow to prevent Christmas trees being stolen.

"Know The Score" is a new resource for teachers aimed at highlighting the risks associated with substance use among teenagers.

They’re among 405 schools across the country who will share more than €30 million in funding for Summer Works projects in 2020.

Transport Minister Shane Ross says it's about changing attitudes and saving lives.

According to the Irish Times, they’ve applied to demolish a single-storey, fire-damaged dwelling known as Meadow Garden and build a two-storey, four-bedroom house with a new entrance at Farm Lane at the back of their existing home.

The Health Information and Equality Authority guidelines say 95% of patients should be handed over by Ambulance crews to emergency departments in 20 minutes, while the HSE guideline is a 30 minute turnaround.

She won in a record time of 28 minutes 41 seconds in the 8 kilometre race at the Sport Ireland Campus.

The multi national micro-chip giant has been given planning permission for a new facility at its base in Leixlip in County Kildare.

The group of 16 were discovered in a container on the vessel during its sailing from Cherbourg.

So far this year, over 3,700 people have applied for asylum in Ireland - the highest in over a decade.

It’s been confirmed that the new Primary Health Care Centre in Bray will finally open to the public by the middle of next year.

The Minister for Education says oversubscribed secondary schools that apply for extra temporary accommodation for September 2020 will be fast tracked if possible.

A DJ set by Basement Jaxx and the Divine Comedy are two of the headline acts announced for Kaleidoscope next year.

Vikings: Valhalla is a new original series that continues the story of the popular Vikings saga.

A Wicklow visitor’s attraction has taken top prize in the themed entertainment section of an international awards competition.

12 high-speed internet hubs have been earmarked in Wicklow under the government’s national broadband plan, announced in Laragh yesterday.

It would stop elected representatives holding up developments, according to the Irish Independent.

A Councillor in Arklow says a coastal walk on the north side of the town will receive funding, despite claims yesterday by Wicklow T.D. John Brady it was overlooked by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

School Caoimhin Naofa in Laragh played host to the Taoiseach and a number of cabinet Ministers for the event, which aims to bring high speed internet to 1.1 million people, largely in rural Ireland.

According to the Sunday Times a planning application for development on the Herbert Road site was lodged with Wicklow County Council last week.

It's emerged that critical upgrade works for the N81 won’t be carried out in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 and can’t be included in the National Roads Programme.

The Dun Laoghaire TD says she's disappointed with the decision and will take time to reflect on it.

Much of its 26 million euro plan for the season will be spent on home care packages and moving people out of hospitals.

That's the finding of a new Oireachtas report that looks at the impact of homelessness on children.

The cost of remedial works at dozens of schools with building defects, including Greystones Educate Together National School, has reached 40 million euro.

A High Court judge has ruled that he cannot change an order he made, preventing the publication of the names of a convicted Wicklow child rapist and his victim.

Sewage from the equivalent of 77,000 people in 36 towns and villages is released into the environment every day without treatment.

A new way for patients to raise complaints about the Irish health system is being launched today.

First-time buyers in parts of Dublin are spending up to 40 percent of their income on their mortgage.

It's part of new laws aimed at tackling our relationship with drink.

The latest rental report from Daft.ie shows that rents in Wicklow were on average 3.8% higher in the third quarter of 2019 than a year previously. with the average listed rent now at €1,422.

Local politicians have expressed their shock at the development

Gardai will be able to issue a €120 fine to drivers found to be endangering a cyclist.

Bray Wanderers have confirmed manager Gary Cronin has commited his future to the club for the next two seasons until 2021.

Just under €3.6 m in funding has been allocated to Baltinglass for Rural Regeneration.

The 704-mile race ,which starts and finishes off the pier head at Wicklow Harbour, is part of the Royal Ocean Racing Club Season’s Points Championship.

The new €2 billion plan was drawn up after thousands of submissions from people, with almost half concerned they'd lose their bus service and a quarter worried they'd have to get off one bus and onto another.

Figures obtained by Fianna Fáil show 130 children with disabilities in North and East Wicklow are now overdue for a needs assessment.

217 thousand tonnes of salt will be available to grit the country's roads this winter.

The government has announced plans for a number of new environmental taxes to start coming into effect from next year.

Wicklow County Council is looking at developing a plan to protect biodiversity at Brittas Bay.

Plans for the development of a primary care centre in Arklow have been further delayed.

The boy, who one expert believes still poses a risk of violence to others, was 15 when he attacked and left the woman for dead in 2017.

Home owners in Wicklow are among almost a million throughout the country who will have to pay a higher property tax next year.

97 percent of doctors say they are concerned about their profession’s response to climate change and pollution.

The parents of Jastine Valdez, who was abducted in broad daylight and killed, say they'll never understand how such evil can exist in the world.

Katie Taylor has become a two-weight world champion after beating Christina Linardatou on points to take the WBO super-lightweight title.

Despite being announced in June, campaigners say delays in its implementation is leading to patients emigrating, travelling abroad frequently, or buying on the black market to get the drug.

According to the Irish Times, trade union SIPTU said it was in dispute with eight organisations under agreements with the HSE, over the restoration of payments which had been cut following the economic downturn.