Electricity sector climate pollution at lowest in decades, says SEAI
Climate pollution from Ireland’s electricity sector is now at its lowest level for decades, according to new figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The data shows greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation fell by 17.2% in the first six months of this year, on top of a separate 8% reduction last year. The […]
Ibec warns against complacency ahead of general election
Complacency about future business growth is a key risk facing the country ahead of the next general election. That’s the view of employers’ representative organisation, Ibec, which launched its election manifesto ahead of the next national vote, the date of which has yet to be decided or disclosed. Ibec says the current strength of Ireland’s […]
New electric vehicle sales down over 25% so far this year
Just over 15,000 new electric vehicles have been sold so far this year, down over 25% on the same period last year. The latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) reveal that 1,259 new EVs were registered last month, down over 29% on August last year. The Volkswagen ID.4 has been […]
Chartered Accountants Ireland and CPA Ireland finalise amalgamation
Chartered Accountants Ireland and CPA Ireland have started to operate as one institute under the Chartered Accountants Ireland brand. Members of the two Irish-based accountancy bodies first voted on an amalgamation proposal in February. A majority of members voted in favour of uniting the two organisations to create a single institute to better represent the […]
CSO’s Census Pilot Survey to test new online census
The Central Statistics Office said today that its Census Pilot Survey will take place in 44 locations across the country during September. Census 2027 will be the first census in Irish history where the public will have the option to complete their census form online. The CSO is conducting the Census Pilot Survey to test […]
Annual inflation falls to 3-year low of 1.1% – flash data
Inflation in Ireland is continuing to ease, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HIPC) is estimated to have increased by 1.1% in the 12 months to August and is up 0.1% since July. This compared to 1.5% in the 12 months to July when […]
Annual wholesale electricity prices up over 15% in July – CSO
The wholesale cost of electricity rose 3% in the month to July, new data from the Central Statistics Office shows. It meant that prices were 15.3% higher than they were in July of last year. However, prices are still 58.5% lower than they were in July of 2022, when they were still being severely influenced […]
42% of new homes sold in 2023 were part of a block sale
Four out of every ten new homes sold last year across the country changed hands as part of a transaction where multiple units were sold together, new research has claimed. In total there were 7,306 new units sold as part of such “block sales” the analysis by estate agents DNG has found. Block sale buyers […]
Consumer confidence falls slightly in August
Consumer confidence dropped slightly in August, according to the latest Credit Union consumer sentiment index. Concerns about household finances in the months ahead and a renewed nervousness about the economy weighed on consumer thinking, the survey states. It suggests that the looming seasonal increase in spending pressures is adding to the lower consumer mood. “The […]
Changes to work permits to come into force next week
Changes to employment permits, designed to make the system more flexible, will come into force from Monday 2 September. Regulations giving effect to the Employment Permits Act were signed today. Under the new rules, certain categories of permit holders will be able to change employer after a nine month period. A new seasonal employment permit […]
Wage Subsidy Scheme set to be expanded
The Wage Subsidy Scheme, which offers private sector employers a subsidy to provide employment to people with disabilities, is to be expanded. A number of changes to the scheme have been announced following a review of the initiative. The scheme pays a minimum subsidy rate of €6.30 an hour to the employer, which can increase […]
First time buyers continue to drive mortgage approvals
Just over 5,300 mortgages were approved in July, the latest figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show. First time buyers continue to drive the bulk of the activity, accounting for almost two thirds – 61.9% – of all approvals in the month. Just under a quarter of approvals were granted to those looking to […]
Domestic electricity bills to rise by up to €100 a year to cover network charges
Household electricity bills could be set to rise by up to €8.42 a month over the coming year. The increase is the result of the energy regulator setting network charges for the period. The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) said network charges are needed to enable ongoing investment to take place in the […]
Average weekly earnings up 5.6% in second quarter – CSO
Preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Office show that average weekly earnings for the second quarter of 2024 reached €963.17, an increase of 5.6% or €51.43 compared with the same time last year. The CSO said that average weekly earnings rose across all 13 sectors in the year to the second quarter, with the largest […]
Chambers set to extend bank levy as part of Budget 2025
Minister for Finance Jack Chambers is planning to extend the bank levy as part of Budget 2025. The levy was first introduced in 2014 and has been extended on a number of occasions over the past decade. The bank levy is calculated based on eligible deposits at the four institutions that received State assistance during […]
Zoned Land Tax to go ahead in Budget, O’Gorman says
Green party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said that the Residential Zoned Land Tax will go ahead in the upcoming Budget. The Minister for Children and Integration said that he had spoken to his Cabinet colleague Minister for Finance Jack Chambers about the matter, and that there will now be a “carve out” for farmers. Minster […]
Over 40% of workers did not use full holiday entitlements last year – survey
More than four out of ten people did not make full use of their full holiday entitlements last year, according to new research on annual leave. The survey undertaken by FRS Recruitment shows that almost one in five people did not take five days of annual leave or more, which in business terms represents a […]
Some mortgage holders with non-bank lenders to face big rate hikes this year
Thousands of mortgage holders who have their loans with non-bank lenders could be set to be see their mortgage rates leap by as much as 3.5 percentage points later this year. The increase will come when their current low fixed rates come to an end and they are forced to choose from one of the […]