BIG STORIES

Opposition parties condemn Budget 2026 as favouring developers over ordinary people

Opposition parties condemn Budget 2026 as favouring developers over ordinary people

Opposition parties have strongly criticized Budget 2026, accusing the government of ignoring the cost-of-living crisis and prioritizing developers and multinational corporations over struggling families and workers. Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the budget has “completely abandoned ordinary people” as the cost-of-living crisis has worsened since last November’s general election. He accused the government … Read more

Budget 2026: €10 social welfare increase, minimum wage rises to €14.15, and VAT changes announced

Budget 2026: €10 social welfare increase, minimum wage rises to €14.15, and VAT changes announced

The government has unveiled Budget 2026, featuring a €10 increase to all core social welfare rates, a minimum wage hike to €14.15, and significant VAT changes for businesses. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers announced the measures, which include a double Christmas bonus payment for social welfare recipients and a 65-cent … Read more

Carbon tax increase adds 2.5 cents per litre to fuel costs from midnight, with further rise in January

Carbon tax increase adds 2.5 cents per litre to fuel costs from midnight, with further rise in January

Motorists will pay more for fuel from midnight as the annual carbon tax increase takes effect, with further price rises scheduled for January. The Finance Act 2020 legislated for annual carbon tax increases until 2030 to support the government’s climate policy. This year’s scheduled increase will raise the tax to €71 per tonne of CO2 … Read more

Ireland's public transport services to recruit drivers from abroad to address critical shortage

Ireland’s public transport services to recruit drivers from abroad to address critical shortage

Ireland’s public transport operators are launching international recruitment drives to hire drivers from overseas as the sector faces a critical shortage ahead of the BusConnects programme expansion. Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are preparing to recruit foreign drivers this autumn, with Ireland needing at least 2,000 additional drivers over the next few years to meet … Read more

Authorities warn of shock hazard from 114,000 heating system pumps installed in Irish homes

Authorities warn of shock hazard from 114,000 heating system pumps installed in Irish homes

Authorities have issued an urgent warning about more than 114,000 heating system pumps widely installed in Irish homes due to a serious risk of electric shock. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has raised the alarm over circulating pumps used in many domestic heating systems across the country. The safety issue affects Tucson 5m, … Read more

Body found in burning vehicle in county Dublin

Body found in burning vehicle in county Dublin

A body has been discovered in a burning vehicle in County Dublin, with gardaí launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The vehicle caught fire at approximately 11am today near Killeek Bridge on Killeek Lane. Emergency services, including the fire brigade and gardaí, responded to the scene. Firefighters extinguished the blaze before the … Read more

Presidential election: Final day to register to vote is tomorrow

Presidential election: Final day to register to vote is tomorrow

The deadline to register for Ireland’s upcoming presidential election or correct existing details on the electoral roll is tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7. Authorities are urging all citizens to ensure their names appear on the electoral roll before the deadline. This is particularly important for those who have recently been granted Irish citizenship, as tomorrow represents … Read more

Yuno Energy announces electricity and gas price freeze for winter months

Yuno Energy announces electricity and gas price freeze for winter months

Yuno Energy has announced a price freeze for electricity and gas customers until at least March 1, ahead of tomorrow’s budget announcement which is not expected to include energy credits. The bill pay service, which was established two years ago and now serves 65,000 customer accounts, said the freeze means its customers will benefit from … Read more

Seven Indian-origin nurses celebrate 25 years in Ireland with historic reunion

Seven Indian-origin nurses celebrate 25 years in Ireland with historic reunion

Seven pioneering Indian-origin nurses who arrived in Ireland in 2000 have celebrated 25 years since their journey from Kerala, marking a milestone in the history of Indian migration to the country. Eliamma Joseph, Annie Sebastian, Bexie Mathew, Bindu Philip, Jennymol Josie, Pinku Joseph and Wimalamma Joseph set foot in Ireland on August 31, 2000, in … Read more

Childcare workers in Ireland to receive pay increase to €15 per hour

Childcare workers in Ireland to receive pay increase to €15 per hour

The government has increased the minimum wage for childcare workers in Ireland from €13.65 to €15 per hour, with the new rate taking effect from October 13. The pay rise will benefit approximately two-thirds of workers currently employed in the childcare sector. Junior Enterprise Minister Alan Dillon said around 35,000 employees will be affected by … Read more

People before profit calls for state-owned supermarkets as Ireland's food prices soar

People Before Profit calls for state-owned supermarkets as Ireland’s food prices soar

The opposition party People Before Profit has called for the establishment of state-owned supermarkets to tackle rising food prices in Ireland, proposing the scheme be introduced on an experimental basis. The call comes as Ireland has become the second most expensive country in the Eurozone and the third most expensive in the entire European Union … Read more

Storm Amy leaves one dead and thousands without power as Ireland faces historic rainfall

Storm Amy leaves one dead and thousands without power as Ireland faces historic rainfall

One person has died and more than 124,000 homes and businesses remain without power as Storm Amy continues to batter Ireland with unprecedented rainfall and destructive winds. A 40-year-old man was killed in Letterkenny, County Donegal, after being struck by a falling tree at approximately 4.15pm on Friday. His body has been taken to Letterkenny … Read more

Health ministry bans cough medicine for children under two following deaths in several states

Health ministry bans cough medicine for children under two following deaths in several states

Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has issued a directive prohibiting the use of cough medicine for children under two years of age following reports of child deaths linked to such medications in various states. The guidelines emphasize that cough medicines for young children should only be administered after proper clinical examination and under the advice … Read more

Ireland's GDP expected to grow by 9 percent this year despite global trade tensions

Ireland’s GDP expected to grow by 9 percent this year despite global trade tensions

An information session aimed at helping secondary school students and parents navigate post-secondary education pathways will take place in Letterkenny next month. The event, titled “Post-Secondary Career Path – Higher Study Options”, is being jointly organised by Divine Nails Letterkenny and Gomart Letterkenny to provide guidance on education systems in Ireland, the UK and across … Read more

Storm Amy: Orange wind warning for five western counties as Ireland braces for severe weather

Storm Amy: Orange wind warning for five western counties as Ireland braces for severe weather

An orange wind warning has been issued for five western counties today as Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, brings severe weather to Ireland. The orange alert covers Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 2pm to 10pm, with Met Éireann warning of potential fallen trees, power outages and dangerous wave overtopping. … Read more