More than 9,200 patients were forced to receive treatment on trolleys in Irish hospitals during July, highlighting the ongoing crisis in hospital overcrowding, new figures reveal. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recorded 9,271 patients treated on trolleys last month, with University Hospital Limerick experiencing the worst overcrowding with 2,257 patients without proper beds. University … Read more
Storm Floris will bring wet and windy conditions to Ireland on Bank Holiday Monday, following its arrival in the UK where it has prompted yellow weather warnings. The storm is expected to impact Ireland from Sunday evening, with Met Éireann forecasting rain and gusty winds spreading from the west on Sunday night. Temperatures will drop … Read more
Food prices in Ireland have increased by 4.6% over the past 12 months, significantly outpacing overall inflation, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO’s latest flash estimate shows food costs rose by 0.2% in July alone, contributing to continued pressure on household budgets despite overall inflation remaining relatively stable at 1.6% … Read more
The Road Safety Authority says it remains on track to achieve its target of 10-week driving test wait times by September, following steady improvements in recent months. National average waiting times have dropped to 14.1 weeks as of late July, down from a peak of 27 weeks in April. The RSA attributes this progress to … Read more
A record number of Irish households are struggling to pay their energy bills, with over 300,000 homes in arrears on electricity payments by the end of May, new figures reveal. The concerning statistics show 301,000 households behind on electricity bills, while another 175,000 domestic gas customers and over 27,000 small businesses are also in arrears. … Read more
Ireland has experienced a sharp increase in people seeking treatment for combined alcohol and drug problems, with cases jumping almost 80% since 2017, according to new official figures. The Health Research Board’s latest report shows that while alcohol treatment cases overall rose by 19% to 8,745 in 2024, the most concerning trend is the surge … Read more
Ireland has officially banned hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a highly addictive cannabis substitute that has been widely available in vapes, edibles, and other products across the country. The Cabinet decision on Tuesday makes the import, export, production, possession, sale, or supply of HHC products illegal, giving gardaí enhanced enforcement powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. … Read more
Dublin Airport Authority has submitted planning permission to Fingal County Council for a significant expansion of the Pier 1 West building, adding a second storey and 1,080 square metres of additional floorspace to accommodate growing passenger numbers. The proposed development includes two new boarding gates, external circulation cores, and enhanced passenger facilities featuring additional seating, … Read more
Dublin City Council has launched an innovative campaign rewarding commuters with special badges for demonstrating “sound” behaviour, targeting cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers who prioritize safety and consideration for others. The “Be Sound This Summer” initiative features roving “Soundness Detectors” who will patrol the city identifying and rewarding positive road user behaviour with distinctive “I’m Sound” … Read more
Maynooth University will welcome its first nursing students in September, marking Ireland’s first new nursing school establishment in over 20 years following official approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. The new BSc in General Nursing programme will accept applications through the CAO’s ‘Available Places’ facility from August 28th, with an initial intake … Read more
Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly will become Ireland’s new Garda Commissioner on September 1st, succeeding Drew Harris who retires after seven years leading the force, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan announced. Kelly, currently serving as Deputy Commissioner since October 2024, has been appointed for a five-year term following what O’Callaghan described as a “suitably rigorous” selection process … Read more
Irish Rail reported a 50% increase in anti-social behaviour incidents last year, with 1,523 reportable cases compared to 1,023 in 2023, intensifying calls for dedicated transport police to address rising safety concerns. The dramatic rise from just 548 incidents in 2021 reflects both increased problematic behaviour and enhanced detection methods. Irish Rail categorizes incidents using … Read more
Chinese online retailer Temu is under investigation by the European Commission over potential violations of the EU’s digital marketplace regulations. Preliminary findings reveal that the platform has been selling illegal products, including small toys for infants and miniature electronics, which could pose safety risks. According to The Journal, The European Commission’s investigation suggests that Temu … Read more
One in four Irish doctors are working more than 48 hours per week, while over 1,000 voluntarily left the medical register in 2024 to practice abroad, according to a new Medical Council report highlighting critical workforce shortages. The study found that nearly half of those working excessive hours are providing direct patient care beyond the … Read more
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has ordered the immediate recall of seven salad product lines from major supermarkets after detecting Listeria bacteria, marking the second significant outbreak within days. The recalled products, all produced by McCormack Family Farms, include various spinach and mixed leaf salads sold through Supervalu, Tesco, and other retailers. Affected items … Read more