Dublin buses get tough on troublemakers: Security guards hit the streets

Dublin Bus to have security guards on board in bid to tackle rising anti-social behaviour

Dublin Bus has launched a bold new initiative to combat rising anti-social behavior on its routes. Starting today, security guards will be patrolling buses across the capital in a 20-week pilot scheme. Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann revealed the alarming increase in incidents that sparked this action. “Before the pandemic, we had about 500 incidents … Read more

€18m of Ireland's defence budget unspent and returned to the exchequer

€18m of Ireland’s defence budget unspent and returned to the exchequer

More than €18 million of Ireland’s 2023 defence budget was left unspent and returned to the exchequer, according to a report by the State’s auditor. The unspent funds were largely the result of significant underspending on pay within the defence sector. While the pay underspend was the most dramatic, there were overspends in other areas … Read more

Heavy rain soaks Ireland: orange alert in Southwest

Heavy rain soaks Ireland: orange alert in Southwest

Ireland is bracing for a wet and wild day as heavy rain sweeps across the country. Met Éireann has issued Orange rain warnings for Cork, Kerry, and Waterford, signaling a high risk of flooding and treacherous driving conditions. The downpour began early in Connaught and Munster and is expected to spread eastward throughout the day. … Read more

No more E-scooters on trains and buses: big fines coming

No more E-scooters on trains and buses: big fines coming

Ireland’s public transport companies are gearing up to enforce a new ban on electric scooters starting next week. Iarnród Éireann warns that passengers caught with e-scooters on trains could face a hefty €100 fine. The National Transport Authority (NTA) implemented this ban due to concerns about potential fires, toxic fumes, and explosions caused by e-scooters’ … Read more

Bank of Ireland warns of new fraud attempts following energy credit announcement

Bank of Ireland warns of new fraud attempts following energy credit announcement

Bank of Ireland has issued a warning to customers to remain vigilant amid a wave of new fraud attempts linked to the recent announcement of energy credits in Budget 2025. The bank highlighted that fraudsters are increasingly using topical events, such as the new energy credits revealed in this week’s Budget, to scam unsuspecting consumers. … Read more

Budget 2025 will offer modest gains but fails to tackle poverty, ESRI reveals

Budget 2025 will offer modest gains but fails to tackle poverty, ESRI reveals

Budget 2025 will give modest benefits for an average household, but it will not significantly reduce overall poverty levels, as per an analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). According to ESRI research, the untargeted cost-of-living measures like energy credits and double child benefit payments could have been better utilised. ESRI estimates that … Read more

Heavy rain alert: Orange warning for Cork and Kerry as weekend washout looms

Heavy rain alert: Orange warning for Cork and Kerry as weekend washout looms

Met Éireann has sounded the alarm for Cork and Kerry, issuing a Status Orange rain warning for Saturday. The alert, set to begin at the stroke of midnight on Friday and last until 11pm Saturday, paints a gloomy picture for the weekend. Residents and visitors in these counties should brace for potential river and coastal … Read more

‘We are sorry’: Irish Rail to switch back to old timetable after commuter disruption

‘We are sorry’: Irish Rail to switch back to old timetable after commuter disruption

Irish Rail on Thursday announced it will revert to its pre-August timetable from October 14 in view of “enormous disruption” caused to passengers due to the introduction of a new schedule. “Iarnod Eireann deeply regrets the disruption to our customers’ daily journeys and lives which have resulted from timetable changes since August 26,” the Irish … Read more

December babies will receive new €420 grant, Minister Humphreys confirms

December babies will receive new €420 grant, Minister Humphreys confirms

Ireland’s Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed that parents of babies born in December will qualify for the newly announced €420 grant for newborns. The grant, which was introduced as part of the recent Budget, will be available to all babies born from January 1, 2025. However, an exception has been made for December-born … Read more

Green crossroads: EPA sounds alarm on Ireland's environmental future

Green crossroads: EPA sounds alarm on Ireland’s environmental future

According to The News Examiner, Ireland is facing a tough road ahead in its journey towards a greener future. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sounded the alarm in its 2024 State of the Environment report, giving the country a “poor” overall rating. The EPA warns that Ireland is grappling with “the most complex and … Read more

Indian-origin nurse Somy Thomas wins NMBI board election 2024 in general nursing category

Indian-origin nurse Somy Thomas wins NMBI board election 2024 in general nursing category

Somy Thomas has been elected to the board of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) following an election in the general nursing category. Somy, who originally hails from India, contested as a candidate of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Reacting on her victory, Somy expressed her gratitude to everyone for their support during … Read more

EU puts brakes on forest protection laws, sparks controversy

EU puts brakes on forest protection laws, sparks controversy

The European Union has hit the pause button on its ambitious anti-deforestation laws, pushing back the implementation by a full year. This move, announced by the European Commission, has raised eyebrows and questions among environmental advocates. The laws, aimed at banning products linked to deforestation from the EU market, were set to take effect soon. … Read more