The Housing Activation Office expects public infrastructure projects funded through a new €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund to result in «tens of thousands» of homes over the coming years. This fund, open since January, received 138 applications from almost all local authorities, primarily for road and some water infrastructure.

Garret Doocey, head of the Housing Activation Office, stated that most projects met criteria and were at various stages, with decisions on successful applications expected «imminently». These projects are identified in development plans as essential fo…

Catherine Rossiter, 52, from Stillorgan, south Dublin, cares for her 12-year-old twins, Aoife and Eoghan, who were born prematurely at 27 weeks. Aoife has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair, and has epilepsy, while Eoghan was diagnosed with autism 18 months ago. Rossiter, a divorced lecturer, describes her life as «not living but just existing» due to the demanding 14-15 hour days.

Her situation highlights a wider crisis, as Family Carers Ireland reported that 71% of family carers struggle financially, and almost half experience severe loneliness. Rossiter receives approximately four hours of …

The Irish Government is resisting EU pressure, led by Estonia, to sanction Aughinish Alumina in Co Limerick, which exports to Russia. Irish officials in Brussels argue that sanctioning the plant would disrupt key raw material supplies to European industry.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna confirmed his country advocated for EU-level sanctions to halt alumina supply from Europe to Russia, targeting the Irish plant owned by Russian metals giant Rusal. However, the European Commission's 21st sanctions package, proposed Tuesday since Russia's early 2022 invasion of Ukraine, did not includ…

Protesters set a Glider bus on fire on Newtownards Road in east Belfast during an anti-immigration demonstration. Masked individuals ignited commercial bins and pushed them into the bus. This incident led Translink, Northern Ireland's public transport operator, to suspend all Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus, and Goldliner services operating in and out of Belfast, condemning the attack.

The protest was organized in response to a knife attack on Monday night in Belfast. A 30-year-old Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article, and threats to kill in connection …

Over 150 solicitors met in Dublin on Tuesday to discuss the Department of Justice's new «one flat fee» payment model for District Court criminal legal aid work, set to begin July 1st. The meeting, which lasted almost two hours, led to some court hearings being adjourned nationwide, including in Dublin, Trim, Wexford, and Mayo, as instructing solicitors were absent.

Calls were made for solicitors to withdraw services for emergency court sittings, including night, Saturday, and bank holiday sittings, if the controversial plan proceeds. The Law Society stated solicitors expressed concerns about …

May was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, according to the United Nations, which presented updated casualty data to the UN Security Council on June 8. Latvian UN envoy Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes stated preliminary figures show a sharp rise in civilian harm, expecting final statistics for May to be even higher.

Attacks in May included strikes on civilian gatherings, such as a funeral in Sumy. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 190 attacks were recorded on medical facilities, including maternity hospitals, and over 200 educational institutions were damaged or destroy…

Judge Fiona O’Sullivan in the Circuit Civil Court awarded Danielle Hogg, 34, a mother of three, €12,500 in damages from Dublin City Council. The award on Tuesday was for unacceptable living conditions in her former flat at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, where mould and damp aggravated her asthma.

Hogg, a fitness instructor now residing in Coolock, Dublin, testified that in 2020, conditions in the flat caused breathing difficulties, coughing, and phlegm. She claimed cold, damp, and black mould throughout the apartment triggered these symptoms. Council workmen had attempted repairs, i…

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has assured that his country «will not trade support for Ukrainian ambitions» on Ukraine's path to joining the European Union. He made this statement at a press conference, responding to a question about the possible blocking of negotiation clusters in Ukraine's EU accession process, given the historical disputes between the countries.

Tusk emphasized that Poland will support Ukraine on its path to Europe «on conditions that will be European, safe, and beneficial for Poland.» This statement follows remarks in 2024 by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak…

Germany will allocate an additional 300 million euros to the Czech initiative for supplying ammunition to Ukraine. This was announced by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius after talks with Czech Defense Minister Jaromir Zuna. These funds are expected to cover the purchase of approximately 50,000 units of ammunition.

Jaromir Zuna emphasized Germany's important role as a supplier of military equipment and ammunition. Pistorius called the initiative a crucial tool for assisting Ukraine, which is resisting the Russian invasion, and thanked the Czech Republic for its continuation. Germany is …

Leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries have expressed support for opening all negotiation clusters on Ukraine's path to joining the European Union in June-July 2026. This position is reflected in the NB8 summit declaration, citing «European Pravda».

In the declaration, NB8 leaders emphasized that the future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union. They acknowledged Ukraine's significant progress in implementing comprehensive reforms and pledged continued support for these efforts. The NB8 countries welcome the achievements in Ukraine's EU accession process and s…

Irish industrial production experienced a significant decline between February and April, reflecting ongoing volatility within specific sectors of the economy. Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Tuesday indicated a 1.3 percent fall compared to the November-January period, and a more substantial 13.2 percent decrease year-on-year.

The primary driver of this downturn was a slump in manufacturing, which saw production tumble by 26 percent compared to the same three months in the previous year. This decline follows a surge in manufacturing activity a year prior, when companie…

Veterans in Europe's energy sector are urging Jørgensen to take decisive action on critical issues, including energy prices, grid infrastructure, and market integration. These experienced figures emphasize the necessity of immediate and comprehensive strategies to stabilize the energy landscape across the continent.

Their call to action highlights the ongoing challenges within the European energy market, stressing the importance of robust policies to ensure stability and efficiency. The veterans' collective message underscores a shared concern for the future of European energy security and af…

A couple buying their first home missed out on a tax refund up to €30,000 under the Help to Buy scheme due to a valuation exceeding the €500,000 limit. The Tax Appeals Commission dismissed their appeal against a Revenue Commissioners' decision last September to refuse their application.

Revenue refused payment because the bank's mortgage approval letter valued their self-build home at €510,000. The Help to Buy scheme requires properties to be valued at no more than €500,000 to qualify for the refund, which can be up to €30,000 in income tax and deposit interest retention tax (Dirt) paid over …

European Union leaders are preparing to discuss enhanced measures against organized crime, including potential sanctions against drug gangs, at their upcoming summit in Brussels next week. This initiative comes as Europe experiences a significant increase in cocaine availability and a rise in domestic drug production.

Magnus Brunner, the internal affairs commissioner, highlighted an «alarming picture» of Europe’s drug market, as detailed in a report released by the EU drugs agency on Tuesday. The challenge of drug trafficking is multifaceted, encompassing both external routes through which dr…

A stabbing occurred in Kinnaird Avenue, north Belfast, around 10:30 PM on Monday, leaving a man in his 40s seriously injured with significant facial, neck, and back wounds. Footage shared online shows one man on top of another with a knife to his throat, before public intervention and PSNI officers arrived.

Police arrested a man, initially believed to be Somalian, later identified as Sudanese, who remains in custody. The PSNI urged the public not to share footage or images of the attack, citing potential trauma to the victim's loved ones and impact on the investigation.

Online, particularly …

Student enrollment in Irish higher education institutions is projected to increase by up to 19% from current levels over the next decade, according to a report from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The document, titled «Projections of Demand for Higher Education 2025-2045», forecasts substantial growth in demand for full-time higher education places in the coming years.

Demand for these places is expected to reach its peak in 2034, subsequently moderating as 2045 approaches. This anticipated growth is primarily attributed to an increase in the …

The European Union foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, announced a new series of sanctions targeting Russia, including metals and alloys exports. This marks the largest tranche in over two years, encompassing 170 proposals focused on the financial sector, energy, and drone production.

The sanctions aim to disrupt Russia’s ability to manufacture arms by targeting the metals industry. New export control measures will affect 50 companies, including entities in China, Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, UAE, and India. Restrictions will also apply to nickel powders, metal, high-performance alloys, c…

A Commission of Investigation found a "clear and serious dereliction of duty" by senior gardaí in their handling of paedophile Bill Kenneally's case, even by 1987 standards. While no widespread collusion by State authorities was found, the failure to properly investigate in 1987-1988 had devastating consequences for victims.

Kenneally, serving 19 years for abusing 15 boys in Waterford (1979-1990), admitted abuse to senior gardaí in 1987, naming seven boys. However, he was not arrested or prosecuted and continued abusing children until a formal complaint by victim Jason Clancy in December 2012…

The European Commission proposes to include a ban on entry to the EU for all combatants who participated in the war against Ukraine on Russia's side in the new, 21st package of European Union sanctions against Russia. This was announced on June 9 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as reported by the «European Pravda» correspondent from Brussels.

Von der Leyen stated: «For the first time, we propose to ban entry into the European Union for anyone who has served in the Russian armed forces since the beginning of the war». She emphasized that «Europe will remain closed to all…

Striking theatre staff, specifically perfusionists, at five public hospitals claim the HSE pays multiples of their claim's cost to hire locum cover due to staff losses to the private sector. Over a dozen elective cardiac operations were cancelled on Tuesday due to this action.

Fórsa members seek to restore a pay link, broken over a year ago, to 2,000 medical scientists. This would cost about €200,000 annually, which they argue would be self-financing as the HSE currently loses staff to private hospitals paying higher rates, then hires locums at a substantial premium.

Rob Regan, head of perfu…