Laya Healthcare has announced it will hike premiums across its schemes by an average of 6.6 per cent starting April 1. The new pricing reflects an increase in the Government levy on health plans, which now makes up about one-third of premium costs. The levy will rise by €49 per adult and €16 per child, … Read more
Irish-based staff at video-sharing platform TikTok have been informed that they will be affected by job cuts. The exact number of layoffs remains unclear. The company currently employs nearly 3,000 people in Ireland. The Department of Enterprise has not received a collective redundancy notification from TikTok, which would be required for job cuts of 30 … Read more
Wholesale electricity prices in Ireland jumped by 22.3 per cent in January compared to the previous month and were 67.7 per cent higher than in January last year, new figures from the Central Statistics Office showed. Despite this surge, prices remain 56.8 per cent lower than the peak recorded in August 2022. Producer prices for … Read more
Met Éireann has issued status yellow weather warnings for 18 counties across Ireland as unsettled conditions are set to impact the country this weekend. Twelve counties in the Republic – Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow – will be under status yellow wind and rain warnings from 2am … Read more
A new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has revealed that retrofitting Ireland’s entire private rental housing stock could come with a staggering €8 billion price tag – an expense many landlords simply cannot afford. The comprehensive research highlights the “complex challenges” facing Ireland’s rental sector as it attempts to meet climate … Read more
An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s national planning appeals body, has firmly denied implementing any policy change regarding telecommunications infrastructure, despite contradictory statements from one of its own board members during a recent investigation. According to The Irish Examiner, the statement follows the conclusion of a two-year investigation led by senior counsel Lorna Lynch, which examined decision-making … Read more
Labour TD Eoghan Kenny has launched a sharp critique of the new Leaving Certificate curriculum reforms, claiming they will create unfair advantages for students from wealthier backgrounds. In direct criticism of Education Minister Helen McEntee, Kenny argued that the planned changes to Ireland’s secondary school examination system lack proper implementation support, particularly regarding teacher preparation. … Read more
New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that annual inflation increased to 1.9 per cent in January, up from 1.4 per cent in December. Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the consumer price index rose by 2.5 per cent over the past year. The biggest price hikes were seen in restaurants and hotels, as … Read more
The Irish Home Builders’ Association (IHBA) has expressed doubts that house completions will rise this year, citing a decline in viable planning permissions, a shortage of serviced land, infrastructure challenges, and inadequate funding for apartments. Housing output fell to 30,000 homes last year—well below the Government’s target of 40,000. The IHBA said there is “palpable … Read more
The Irish government has enlisted the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), a US Defense Department agency based at the Pentagon, to advise on a comprehensive reorganization of Ireland’s military services. The American agency has already begun consultations with Irish Air Corps leaders about transforming the organization into a more independent air force structure with dedicated … Read more
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has indicated she hopes to resolve the ongoing delays in rolling out free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) within “a couple of weeks,” as the initiative remains stalled months after its planned January launch. Speaking in the Dáil, the minister addressed the standoff between the Department of Health and the Irish … Read more
The Airport Hopper bus services between Maynooth, Tallaght, and Dublin Airport have been suspended due to financial difficulties, the operator has confirmed. Airport Hopper Holdings Ltd told RTÉ News that operations were “paused” from 10 February as the service had been “financially unsustainable for a long period,” with passenger numbers too low to keep it … Read more
The Irish government is exploring plans to ease planning restrictions on cabins and modular homes in back gardens as part of efforts to address the housing crisis. Minister of State John Cummins is reviewing potential exemptions in line with recent changes to planning laws. Currently, homeowners can extend their properties by up to 40 square … Read more
Sunshine returned to Dublin this morning, ending a record-equalling streak of 11 consecutive days without any sunshine. The gloomy stretch is one of the longest sunless periods in the capital since records began. Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather noted that the last similar event occurred in March 1969. He said that while some brief sunshine … Read more
Housing Minister James Browne has launched a review of vacant home refurbishment grants, aiming to make the scheme more appealing to young couples and families seeking housing solutions. The initiative forms part of a broader examination of housing policies currently underway by the Government. Among the additional measures being considered is an extension to planning … Read more