The Irish government on Thursday confirmed the selection of India’s Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as its preferred partner to build and run the system for its landmark auto-enrolment (AE) pension scheme. According to The Irish Times, the 10-year contract is valued at up to €150 million. The official confirmation came a day after both Houses … Read more
Finance Minister Jack Chambers has announced that Budget 2025 will be presented on Tuesday, October 1, one week earlier than usual. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Chambers explained that this date aligns with the necessary budgetary and fiscal frameworks required by October 15. He emphasized that the early date does not signal an impending general … Read more
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald on Wednesday branded Dublin’s inner city unsafe and called for increased deployment of Gardai on the streets, in the aftermath of the death of the Canadian tourist who was assaulted brutally last month. Speaking in the Dail, leader of the oppositon McDonald slammed the government over its inaction. “The … Read more
Unemployment rate in Ireland rose marginally to 4.2 per cent in June, according to data from Central Statistics Office (CSO). This was up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. CSO figures also indicated the seasonally adjusted number of people classified as unemployed was 117,100 in June, compared with 113,000 in May. However, on an … Read more
Banking and payments app Revolut is considering launching mortgage products in the Irish market in the first half of 2025. With the move, the fintech firm will aim to take on the traditional banks in the State, which accounted for 93 per cent of new mortgage lending in 2023. “We are very keen to get … Read more
A total of 561,000 residents in Ireland were served by “at risk” public water supplies in 2023, up from 481,000 in 2022, according to a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA research shows that the deterioration in supplies was primarily due to detections of persistent levels of toxic trihalomethanes (THMs) and … Read more
Starting today, thousands of households across the country will see their gas and electricity prices decrease. SSE Airtricity, a major energy provider, has announced a 10% reduction in prices for customers on variable tariffs. This price cut will save the average customer around €150 a year on electricity and just over €100 on gas. This … Read more
A severe heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with temperatures soaring into the 40s. New weather maps show that parts of Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Algeria could experience temperatures as high as 41°C this week. This extreme heat is worsening conditions in already stressed areas. Greece recently reported six tourist deaths due to record-breaking temperatures. The … Read more
Ireland is likely to experience more frequent extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees in the coming times, a new research has predicted. According to climate scientists at Maynooth University, a temperature of more than 34 degrees changed from a 1 in 1,600-year event to a 1 in 28-year event between 1942 and 2020. Ireland … Read more
The Government is set to expand its list of ‘safe countries’ by adding Brazil, Egypt, India, Malawi, and Morocco. This decision will be discussed and likely approved by the Cabinet later on Tuesday, following a proposal by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Starting Wednesday, international protection applications from these five countries will be processed more … Read more
Australia has more than doubled the visa fee for international students in a bid to deter growing migration into the country that is putting a strain on the housing market. The visa fee for foreign students has jumped to A$1,600 (€661) from A$710 (€440), while visitor visa holders and students with temporary graduate visas are … Read more
The Irish government has expanded the Free Contraception Scheme to include women aged between 32-35. Following the move, all women aged between 17 and 35 are now covered under the scheme, which was introduced in 2022. The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, family planning, student health, primary care centres, and prescriptions for … Read more
For the first time since June 2021, Fine Gael has surpassed Sinn Féin to become Ireland’s most popular political party. The latest Business Post/Red C opinion poll shows Fine Gael, led by Prime Minister Simon Harris, holding 21% of public support, despite a 1% drop since the last survey. Sinn Féin, under opposition leader Mary … Read more
Ireland saw a significant rise in the number of abortions performed last year, reaching a record high since the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 came into effect. According to a report from the health department, 10,033 abortions were carried out in the country in the past year, up from 8,156 in 2022. … Read more
Starting Monday, July 1, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) will launch a new version of the driver theory test in Ireland. According to Irish Mirror, this updated test will feature current road safety standards and laws, with new questions and images. If you’re scheduled to take the test on or after July 1, ensure you … Read more