Irish hospitals are facing significant overcrowding issues with 550 patients currently without proper beds, according to figures released Thursday by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). Of these patients, 365 are waiting in emergency departments while another 185 are being accommodated on trolleys in hospital wards. University Hospital Limerick is experiencing the most severe … Read more
A group of 12 leading academics has warned that the Irish Government’s plans for a commercial LNG (liquefied natural gas) facility could deepen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. In a letter addressed to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, experts from universities in both Ireland and the United States expressed concern about the proposed development. They cautioned … Read more
An Garda Síochána has detected 106 speeding offenses in just the first few hours of National Slow Down Day on Wednesday, February 26. The 24-hour nationwide speed enforcement operation aims to reduce dangerous driving on Irish roads. Among the violations, the most significant was a driver caught traveling at 136km/h in a 100km/h zone on … Read more
Planning permission for a data centre in Dublin has been denied by An Bord Pleanála following an appeal process that lasted almost 18 months. Equinix Ireland Ltd’s proposed facility on the Nangor Road in Clondalkin was rejected on the grounds that it would be “inappropriate and contrary to national climate obligations.” According to The Irish … Read more
Two women are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in hospital following a carjacking incident in Clane, Co Kildare, last weekend, gardaí said. Around 10:45 pm on Sunday, a man forcibly removed a woman in her 40s from her parked car outside a takeaway on Main Street. During the incident, a woman in her 20s was … Read more
More than 2,300 applications have been submitted for 46 discounted rent apartments at Google’s Bolands Mills Quarter in Dublin, but only 23 per cent have met the eligibility criteria. Launched last week, the apartments are designated for key workers, including gardaí, nurses, and teachers. Applicants must also have a connection to the local area and … Read more
Labour TD Ciarán Ahern believes that drivers should go back to basics and sit a driving theory test every time they renew their licence. The party’s transport spokesperson suggested that refresher courses every ten years could help tackle reckless driving on Irish roads. Speaking in Dublin, Ahern also highlighted the need for improved public transport … Read more
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has called on Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to establish a “one-stop shop portal” giving buyers free access to vital information about used cars. Currently, Irish consumers must “rely on the honesty of sellers” with limited ability to verify claims about a vehicle’s condition. Last year, the CCPC received … Read more
Average weekly earnings in Ireland increased by 5.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, reaching €979.71, up from €927.98 in the same period of 2023, according to preliminary estimates from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO also reported a 6.2 per cent rise in average hourly earnings, which climbed to €30.21 … Read more
A recent survey by the European Union Drugs Agency has revealed that less than 3% of drug users across Europe received treatment to manage or quit drugs last year. The comprehensive study, which included over 61,000 respondents from 24 EU countries and Norway, highlights concerning trends in drug consumption patterns. Cannabis was identified as the … Read more
The Government’s Vacant Home Grant scheme has seen fewer than 1,500 grant drawdowns, falling substantially below its target to deliver 4,000 homes by 2025, according to figures to be presented to Cabinet today by Housing Minister James Browne. Despite a notable increase in grant drawdowns from just 100 at the end of 2023 to 1,349 … Read more
Tánaiste Simon Harris is seeking Cabinet approval for Ireland to host a significant European summit during the country’s upcoming presidency of the European Union in 2026. In today’s Cabinet meeting, Harris, who also serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will present a proposal for Ireland to host a summit of the European Political … Read more
A new study led by University of Galway researchers has discovered that swans in the Greater Dublin and County Kildare areas frequently carry antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in their digestive systems. These bacteria closely resemble those causing difficult-to-treat infections in humans. The research team, working in collaboration with the Irish Midland Ringing Group, collected fecal … Read more
St John of God Hospital in Dublin has announced that it is the first hospital in Ireland to introduce Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy for patients who do not respond to conventional depression treatments. rTMS is a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions, helping to form new neural connections … Read more
Over a third of Irish consumers regularly discard food, contributing to economic losses and environmental consequences, a new survey commissioned by Too Good To Go has revealed. As per the survey, conducted ahead of National Stop Food Waste Day on March 1st, an average person in Ireland throws away up to €374 worth of food … Read more