Almost 6,000 complaints were submitted to the National Transport Authority about delayed, cancelled or so-called “ghost” buses in just the first five months of this year, the Oireachtas transport committee has heard. Ghost buses are services that disappear from live timetables, leaving passengers stranded without notice. The NTA received 5,984 complaints about bus services up … Read more
AIB has issued an urgent warning about investment scams after one customer was defrauded of more than €150,000, with fraudsters deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims. Investment scams typically involve criminals posing as legitimate financial advisors or companies, offering high returns on investments in cryptocurrency, property or other assets. They use fake websites, forged … Read more
The long-awaited Metrolink project has been granted planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála, marking a major milestone for what will be the largest public transport project in Irish history. The 18.8-kilometre underground rail line will connect Swords to Charlemont with 16 stations, linking Dublin Airport directly to the city centre. The route will serve residential … Read more
Status Orange wind warnings have been issued for five counties along Ireland’s west coast ahead of Storm Amy’s arrival tomorrow, with Met Éireann warning of potentially dangerous conditions. The Orange alert covers Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 2pm to 10pm on Friday, with forecasters predicting near gale-force to gale-force winds that could cause … Read more
Secondary school students should be given access to apprenticeships within the school curriculum, an Oireachtas education committee has been told. Representatives from employers’ organization Ibec and Chambers Ireland appeared before the Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education to discuss the future of apprenticeship programmes in Ireland. The proposal would integrate vocational training pathways directly … Read more
Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will travel overseas this autumn to recruit drivers as they struggle to meet staffing demands ahead of the BusConnects programme launch early next year. Chief executive Stephen Kent told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that recruitment has become a critical priority, with Cork facing the most immediate challenge. The city is … Read more
Ireland is bracing for the first named storm of the season as Storm Amy approaches, prompting Met Éireann to issue two status yellow rain warnings covering the entire country. The weather service has warned of widespread rain, localised flooding and difficult travel conditions as the storm moves in from Thursday morning. The first warning takes … Read more
The Health Service Executive is launching a new wastewater testing programme to track illicit drug consumption across Ireland, with analysis set to begin by March 2026. The three-year contract, valued at €480,000, will provide health officials with objective, real-time data on drug market trends and consumption patterns. The initiative forms part of an early warning … Read more
Ryanair has confirmed it will not resume flights to Tel Aviv after Ben Gurion Airport failed to meet Tuesday’s deadline for guarantees on terminal costs and flight slots. The airline demanded assurances that it would maintain “low-cost” charges if moved to the more expensive Terminal 3 and that it would receive the same summer 2026 … Read more
Irish households paid more than half of the €5.5 billion in environmental taxes collected by the Government last year, according to new Central Statistics Office figures. Environmental tax revenue rose 11% in 2024, marking the highest amount recorded since the CSO began compiling these statistics a decade ago. The significant increase reflects both higher tax … Read more
More third-level students could receive reductions on their annual college fees in next week’s budget, as the Government considers expanding grant access and increasing payment amounts. Government sources have indicated that options are “on the table” to reform the student contribution grant, which helps students cover their annual college fees. The measures under consideration could … Read more
Ireland’s independent Climate Change Advisory Council has warned that the Government has failed to learn adequate lessons from two devastating recent storms, with funding for climate adaptation measures critically insufficient. Storm Darragh in December and Storm Éowyn in January caused widespread wind damage across the country, triggering multiple status red weather warnings and leaving hundreds … Read more
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has defended government plans to pay families seeking asylum up to €10,000 to withdraw their claims and leave Ireland, insisting the measure will save the state money. The government is proposing to increase existing voluntary return allowances from €1,200 for individuals and €2,000 for couples or families to €2,500 for individuals … Read more
Sick and injured children could begin receiving treatment at the new National Children’s Hospital by spring or summer 2026 if building contractor BAM fulfills its contractual obligations, HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster has said. Although an official update is expected within days, building work should be sufficiently complete by November to allow “early access” for … Read more
Europe’s environmental decline is jeopardizing the continent’s quality of life despite progress on climate targets, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency that cautions against rolling back green regulations. The agency acknowledged that Europe has made “important progress” in reducing planet-heating pollution but warned that widespread wildlife loss and climate breakdown are … Read more