Ireland will need between 15,000 and 20,000 additional nursing home beds by 2040 to meet growing demand from an aging population, according to new ESRI projections to be presented at the Nursing Homes Ireland conference on Thursday. The lower projection of 15,000 beds translates to an average requirement of over 1,000 new beds each year … Read more
The European Union has suspended bilateral support for Israel worth up to €32 million and proposed suspending parts of Israel’s special trade agreement with the bloc, citing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, froze payments that would have provided Israel with an average of €6 … Read more
House prices across Ireland continue their relentless climb, with the median cost of a home now standing at €374,999 following a 7.5% increase in the year to July 2025. The Central Statistics Office’s Residential Property Price Index showed a slight cooling from the 7.9% annual growth recorded the previous month, though prices remain on a … Read more
Tánaiste Simon Harris will advise Cabinet ministers on Wednesday that only coordinated EU-wide trade measures can effectively pressure Israel over its actions in Gaza. Ministers will be told that there must be “a move on an EU-wide basis” to “pressure Israel to stop the killing, starvation, and genocide in Gaza” during their morning meeting at … Read more
The first new hospital to open in Ireland since 2007 has welcomed its first patients this week, marking a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare infrastructure. The 99-bed private Bon Secours hospital in Limerick began operations just two and a half years after construction commenced, representing the fastest hospital development in recent Irish history. The … Read more
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon has emphasized that securing the nitrates derogation for Irish farmers remains the Government’s highest priority as detailed negotiations continue with the European Commission. Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly, Minister Heydon told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that Ireland is facing unprecedented requirements related to the habitats directive. … Read more
Ireland’s consumer watchdog has issued an urgent recall notice for over 5,000 electric mini heaters sold across the country due to a serious risk of electric shock. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission announced the recall of the De Vielle Dual Fan Electric Heater after testing revealed significant safety concerns that could pose a danger … Read more
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that tackling child poverty will be a key priority in the upcoming budget, with significant enhancements planned for family support payments. Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr Martin outlined plans for “significant moves” in child support payments and working family payments, alongside the development of a second-tier payment system. … Read more
More than four in five Irish people are worried about the cost of living, with nearly half fearing they will struggle to meet household expenses in the coming year, according to new research. The survey, commissioned by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, found that 84% of the public is concerned about cost-of-living pressures, … Read more
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has clarified that while a specific second-tier child benefit payment will not feature in next month’s budget, “measures that are more or less equivalent” will be introduced to support low-income families. The clarification follows apparent confusion after Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary stated yesterday that the payment would not be included in … Read more
More than a quarter of Irish adults have made no financial preparations for retirement, with the majority expecting to depend entirely on the State pension when they stop working, new research has revealed. A survey by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission found that 26% of adults have no retirement plan in place, marking an … Read more
The Government will bypass local authorities and directly zone land for housing if councils continue to resist increasing land supply, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned. Mr Martin launched a sharp attack on county council chief executives who are failing to rezone land for housing development, describing their approach as showing “a degree of inertia and … Read more
The HSE is seeking private service providers to help reduce a mounting backlog in autism diagnostic assessments for children and teenagers, with waiting lists projected to exceed 25,000 by year’s end. Currently, over 15,000 children are awaiting an Assessment of Need, a formal procedure under the Disability Act 2005 that identifies a child’s health and … Read more
More than 1.8 million prescriptions for anti-depression medication were dispensed to people over 16 in the first five months of 2025, according to new HSE figures that highlight the scale of mental health challenges facing the country. Between January and May 2025, exactly 1,855,620 prescriptions were issued to over-16s, representing a significant increase in anti-depression … Read more
Only 12% of people eligible for the Government’s expanded free GP visit card scheme have applied, according to new HSE data that has prompted doctors to demand changes to the application process. Despite 430,000 people becoming eligible under what the Department of Health described as “the biggest expansion in eligibility for free GP care in … Read more