Illness benefit of €350 per week for Covid patients extended until June

The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has secured Government approval to extend the Enhanced Illness Benefit (EIB) – paid at €350 per week – until the end of June. This scheme will continue to support people who are diagnosed with Covid-19 or who need to self-isolate in line with HSE guidelines or the … Read more

Further 10,618 Covid cases in Ireland; Vaccine registration open for children aged 5-11

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 4,208 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition, on Monday 31 January, 6,410* people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. As of 8am today, 624 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of whom 66 are in ICU. Meanwhile the vaccine registration for all children aged … Read more

Minister announces free talking therapy sessions for those impacted by the pandemic; Details here

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, today announced the launch of talking therapy sessions on a no cost basis to individuals impacted by the pandemic. NGO partner MyMind will provide up to 16,500 counselling and psychotherapy sessions, in over 15 languages, through a €1 million dedicated fund. “This funding is part of … Read more

Education Minister announces extensive changes to Leaving Cert; Exams to take place in June

Following a Government decision today, Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has announced extensive changes to the state examinations for 2022, following a meeting of the advisory group on state examinations this morning. To take into account the disruption to teaching and learning experienced by the Leaving Certificate class of 2022, extensive changes will be … Read more

Just over 50% aged between 17-35 received booster dose; Minister urges action

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, has today encouraged students to get their COVID-19 vaccine boosters as soon as they can. Speaking today, Minister Simon Harris said: “Omicron remains a concern for people who have not been fully vaccinated and received their booster.” “We know a significant number of people aged between 17 … Read more

World’s most powerful passports for 2022, Ireland ranked in fifth place

The world’s most powerful passports for 2022 have been revealed. Ireland is ranked fifth on the list of most powerful passports in the world. Henley and Partners released their Passport Index revealing the Irish passport to be the fifth most useable in the world. The ranking was based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport … Read more

Gardaí seize huge €220k of suspected cannabis herb in Cork

Gardaí in West Cork have seized approximately €220,000 of suspected cannabis herb and resin and arrested one man following an operation in Bantry yesterday. The operation started with a street stop by a mobile unit that uncovered a quantity of cannabis herb – this was followed up rapidly by searches in the area. A Garda … Read more

Road rules: Increased fines for parking on footpaths, cycle and bus lanes will take effect from today

The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, signed regulations doubling the cost of a fixed charge ticket for anyone who parks on a footpath, cycle or bus lane. The new penalties will increase the fine from €40 to €80 and will come into operation from today (1 February 2022.) Minister Eamon Ryan said the measure would help … Read more

Recruitment campaign for migrants, travelers, and ethnic groups to explore a career with the An Garda Síochána in Ireland

There is currently a recruitment campaign for An Garda Siochana organized by the community policing office in Pearse Street Garda Station. The campaign is targeted at migrants, travelers, and ethnic groups living in Ireland. Officials said, “The aim of this session is to give people the opportunity to meet a guard, get some information on … Read more

Emergency services attend scene of reported attack on teenage girl in Kilkenny

There was an attack on a teenage girl this afternoon in Co Kilkenny. Emergency services have attended the reported scene. When the alleged attack took place around lunchtime, the 17-year-old girl was in the Johnstown area of Co Kilkenny. A spokesperson said: “An Garda Siochana are currently responding to a report in Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, … Read more

Vaccinations certificates older than 270 days will not be accepted as proof from 1st February while traveling in to Ireland

New travel rules will come in to effect from 1st February 2022 in Ireland. As part of these changes, Covid vaccine certificates for primary vaccination series will not be accepted for travel if more than 270 days (approx. 9 months) have passed since the final dose in the primary vaccine series. Vaccine certificates based on … Read more

8,631 new cases of Covid confirmed in Ireland; 692 in hospitals

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 3,872 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition, on Sunday 30 January, 4,759* people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. On Saturday 29 January, the HPSC was notified of 5,091 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19. 4,057 people registered a positive antigen test through the … Read more