Previous earnings to be linked to new jobseeker’s payment
A new jobseeker’s payment that is linked to a person’s previous earnings is due to begin. People who become unemployed, and who have at least five years’ paid PRSI contributions, will be entitled to receive 60% of their earnings, subject to a maximum of €450 a week for the first 13 weeks. After that, the […]
Driver number needed for new car insurance from today
The new legal requirement for motorists to provide their driver number when renewing or taking out motor insurance is in effect. It is now an offence for any insurance provider or broker to issue motor insurance to anyone if the driver numbers for all the named drivers on their policy are not provided. Drivers who […]
Minister to allocate €436m for social housing needs
Minister for Housing James Browne is to allocate €436m for social housing needs this year. This includes capital funding allocations of €325m to be used by local authorities for the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme. €111m has also been allocated for 82 new social housing projects which will provide over 1,300 newly built homes, delivered […]
Average price of second-hand home in Dublin nears €600,000
A new property survey for the first quarter of this year shows that the average price of a resale property in Dublin stands at €593,936, an increase of over €50,000 since the end of March 2024. The latest residential market review from estate agents DNG shows the average price of a resale property in Dublin […]
Average first time buyers and mover purchase values hit record levels – BPFI
New figures from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland show that first time buyer and mover purchase values reached their highest levels on record at €322,050 and €375,495 respectively in February. Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland’s latest Mortgage Approvals Report shows that the number of mortgages approved rose by 0.7% month-on-month in February, but were […]
Donohoe ‘extremely concerned’ over potential impact of tariffs
The Minister for Finance has said he is “extremely concerned” about the potential impact of proposed United States tariffs on pharmaceutical exports, warning they could deliver a major blow to Ireland’s economy. Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time programme, Paschal Donohoe said the Government is preparing for “real and significant” difficulties if US President Donald Trump […]
Deadline for Irish workers to top up UK pension looms
Thousands of Irish people who worked in the UK and paid the equivalent of our social insurance, could be entitled to access a British pension. More than 250,000 Irish people may be due to benefit from a significant pension boost, some of whom who have already applied could also be in a position to top […]
‘Ireland was very smart’ – Trump cites pharma tariffs
US President Donald Trump has said the US will be introducing tariffs on pharmaceuticals, specifically citing Ireland among the countries where many pharmaceutical products are made. Speaking in the Oval Office last night, Mr Trump said the tariffs on pharmaceuticals are aimed at bringing the pharmaceutical industry back to the US, claiming the US does […]
ESRI says ‘clear need’ for reform of rent controls
The Economic and Social Research Institute has said there is a “clear need” for reform of rent controls. In its Quarterly Economic Commentary, the ESRI said the existing system causes frequent confusion regarding what increases landlords are permitted to implement. It said rents are not allowed to rise “in real terms” when account is taken […]
ECB rates could fall to 2% by end of summer, Villeroy says
There is still room to lower European Central Bank interest rates further, and the 2.5% deposit rate could fall to 2% by the end of the summer, French central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau told a German newspaper. The ECB has cut rates six times since last June but has given little guidance about […]
Energy transition could generate €19 billion a year – SEAI
A new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimates that Ireland’s energy transition will drive up to €19 billion per year of new business by 2030. It said Irish based companies have the potential to capture up to 42% of that amount. The report is being launched at the SEAI Energy Show […]
Over half of complaints to FSPO in 2024 related to banking
Just over half (3,404) of the 6,185 complaints made to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) last year were about banking, with customer service and disputed transactions the main reasons for such complaints. Despite this, the 2024 FSPO Complaints Overview says the number of banking complaints was down by 12% on the previous year. […]
Electricity demand set to grow 45% between now and 2034
The body which manages the electricity grid says demand is expected to grow by 45% from its 2023 level to 2034 and the peak requirement for power will rise by 24% over the same period. EirGrid says there will be a “challenging outlook” between this year and 2027 until new sources of power come on […]
Asking prices for homes rise by average of 3.7% in first quarter – report
Asking prices for homes nationally rose by an average of 3.7% during the first three months of 2025, according to the latest Daft.ie House Price Report. The study suggests the typical listed price across the country in the first quarter of the year was €346,048, which is 11.6% higher than the same time last year […]
Central Bank announces new consumer protection code
The Central Bank has published a new consumer protection code aimed at modernising the set of rules that businesses must abide by when dealing with consumers. The regulator said the code “reflects the way financial services are provided in a digital world”. It enhances consumer protections in areas such as digitalisation, mortgage switching, fraud and […]
Land, capital and labour issues must be addressed to increase housing output – BPFI
At least half of housing commencements in 2024 were due to uncertainty over the extension of the development levy waiver or water connection charge refund, according to the latest Housing Market Monitor for the fourth quarter of 2024, published today by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland. More than 69,000 new homes commenced in 2024, more […]
Euro zone economy growth accelerates to seven-month high in March, PMI shows
Euro zone business activity grew at its fastest pace in seven months in March, supported by an easing in the long-running manufacturing downturn despite slower growth in services, a survey showed. The improving business climate in the common currency bloc could gain more traction over the coming months as plans for a spending splurge in […]
ECB board member makes case for more interest rate cuts
The case for another European Central Bank interest rate cut is strengthening, ECB board member Piero Cipollone said today, just days after another prominent policy dove made a similar argument. The ECB has cut interest rates six times since last June but provided few signals about its next move after the most recent reduction at […]