Students warned of accommodation scams as union appeals to homeowners

Students warned of accommodation scams as union appeals to homeowners

Students are being warned to verify letting agents’ credentials ahead of next week’s college offers, as accommodation scammers target desperate students seeking housing for the new academic year. With Leaving Certificate results released Friday and first-round college offers due Wednesday, August 27th, demand for student accommodation is expected to surge. The Property Services Regulatory Authority … Read more

Cork anglers report catastrophic river Blackwater fish kill

Cork anglers report catastrophic river Blackwater fish kill

Cork anglers fear up to 46,000 fish have died in what they describe as a catastrophic fish kill along a 30-kilometer stretch of the River Blackwater between Lombardstown and Killavullen, though state agencies estimate significantly lower numbers. Inland Fisheries Ireland confirmed it is investigating the large-scale fish mortality event, estimating between 8,000 and 10,000 wild … Read more

Protesters demand Central Bank block renewal of Israel bond sales

Protesters demand Central Bank block renewal of Israel bond sales

Around 100 demonstrators gathered outside Dublin’s Central Bank on Tuesday, calling on the institution to halt its approval of Israel bond sales in the EU ahead of a crucial renewal deadline next month. The protest targeted the Central Bank’s role as the designated EU authority for approving Israel bond sales, demanding the institution refuse renewal … Read more

Fine Gael reopens presidential nominations as Humphreys and Kelly eye contest

Fine Gael reopens presidential nominations as Humphreys and Kelly eye contest

Fine Gael will reopen nominations for its presidential candidate following a meeting of its Executive Council tonight, after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the race last week on medical advice. The party announced that nominations will open at noon tomorrow and remain available for two weeks, requiring potential candidates to secure backing from 20 Parliamentary Party … Read more

Six-month Waterford train disruptions begin to address chronic flooding

Six-month Waterford train disruptions begin to address chronic flooding

Waterford train services will face significant weekday morning disruptions over the next six months as Irish Rail begins major flood prevention works designed to tackle recurring flooding that has plagued the line for years. The extensive engineering project aims to make the railway resilient to climate change impacts and address the persistent flooding issues that … Read more

Hospital overcrowding in western Ireland 'out of control', union warns

Hospital overcrowding in western Ireland ‘out of control’, union warns

Hospital overcrowding across western Ireland has reached crisis levels and requires urgent intervention from the Health Service Executive, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has warned following alarming patient data. Over 34% of patients waiting on trolleys nationwide on Monday were being treated in western hospitals, highlighting the disproportionate burden facing the region’s healthcare facilities. … Read more

Fast food chain Wendy's returns to Ireland after 40-year absence

Fast food chain Wendy’s returns to Ireland after 40-year absence

Wendy’s, the iconic US fast-food chain famous for its square burgers and Frosty desserts, will open its first Irish restaurant in decades this October at Cork’s Mahon Point Shopping Centre. The new outlet will create 50 jobs, with recruitment already underway for full- and part-time positions. While Wendy’s briefly operated on Dublin’s North Earl Street … Read more

Met Éireann issues Yellow thunderstorm alert for three counties

Met Éireann issues Yellow thunderstorm alert for three counties

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow thunderstorm warning for Cork, Kerry, and Limerick, effective from 9am until 6pm today as severe weather conditions threaten the southwestern counties. The national weather service has warned of potential localised flooding and power outages as a result of the extreme weather conditions. Lightning strikes could also cause damage … Read more

Chimney fires lead house fire causes as 25 fire deaths recorded in 2024

Chimney fires lead house fire causes as 25 fire deaths recorded in 2024

Chimneys, hot ashes, and soot remained the leading causes of domestic fires in Ireland last year, contributing to 25 fire-related deaths across the country, according to new national statistics. The figures from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management revealed that 21 of those who died in fire incidents were aged 55 or over, … Read more

Nearly 900 childcare providers approved to raise fees despite state funding

Nearly 900 childcare providers approved to raise fees despite state funding

Almost 900 government-funded childcare providers have been approved to increase their fees this year, undermining efforts to reduce childcare costs for parents despite substantial state investment in the sector. The Department of Children received 1,145 fee increase applications for the 2024/2025 program year, with 898 services approved to increase at least one fee following the … Read more

Laya Healthcare announces 4.5% average premium increase from October

Laya Healthcare announces 4.5% average premium increase from October

Laya Healthcare will increase health insurance premiums by an average of 4.5% from October 1st, while retiring 10 existing plans and introducing three new options as part of a comprehensive product review. The price increases will affect customers renewing policies on or after October 1st, though those mid-contract will not see changes until their renewal … Read more

Irish car loan borrowing hits five-year high in early 2025

Irish car loan borrowing hits five-year high in early 2025

Irish consumers borrowed more money for car purchases in the first quarter of 2025 than at any point since detailed record-keeping began five years ago, with the average loan reaching €13,267 according to new industry data. The Banking and Payments Federation Ireland reported that 19,552 car loans were taken out between January and March, collectively … Read more

Over 600 teaching posts remain vacant as new school year approaches

Over 600 teaching posts remain vacant as new school year approaches

More than 600 teaching posts remain unfilled just one week before schools reopen across Ireland, as unions warn that government inaction continues to fuel an unprecedented recruitment and retention crisis in education. At second-level, 284 unfilled teaching posts in subjects like English, biology, and maths are still being advertised, while at primary level, 140 mainstream … Read more

Dublin pubs threaten staff cuts if lower VAT rate delayed

Dublin pubs threaten staff cuts if lower VAT rate delayed

More than 40% of Dublin food pubs warn they will reduce staff if the lower VAT rate is delayed until 2026, according to a new Licensed Vintners Association survey that highlights the severe impact of higher taxation on the hospitality sector. The research reveals widespread concern among pub operators, with 10% considering abandoning food service … Read more

Driving test wait times drop to 13.5 weeks, beating August target

Driving test wait times drop to 13.5 weeks, beating August target

The Road Safety Authority has achieved “significant” progress in reducing driving test waiting times, with the national average dropping to 13.5 weeks as of August 14th – well ahead of its mid-August target of 16 weeks. The improvement represents a dramatic turnaround from the peak waiting time of 27 weeks recorded at the end of … Read more