Expansion of drug courts urgedAn Oireachtas committee is expected to call for the establishment of drug treatment courts across the State following rising …Tue Jan 04 2005 - 00:00
Drug-free prisons plan 'ludicrous'Prison chaplains have expressed concern that new Government measures to eradicate heroin from prisons are not backed by support…Mon Jan 03 2005 - 00:00
Brennan 'uneasy' over elderly chargeThe Minister for Social and Family Affairs has expressed "unease" at the Government's move to legalise the controversial practice…Fri Dec 31 2004 - 00:00
Database shows gaps in services for the disabledThousands of people with physical or sensory disabilities who are registered with State authorities are waiting for assessments…Fri Dec 31 2004 - 00:00
Applications for asylum down 40%The number of asylum applications in Ireland this year is expected to be down by at least 40 per cent on last year's total of…Thu Dec 30 2004 - 00:00
Departments to vary their policies on SSIA interestGovernment Departments will take different approaches in deciding whether to include interest generated by Special Savings Incentive…Thu Dec 30 2004 - 00:00
Possible mistreatment of foreign workers to be investigatedGovernment labour inspectors are investigating more than 300 cases of possible exploitation and mistreatment of employees, the…Thu Dec 30 2004 - 00:00
Only eight sex offenders took prison treatment programmeJust eight sex offenders in prison completed a programme last year aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending.Wed Dec 29 2004 - 00:00
Daytime television drink ads to be bannedThe Government is expected to ban the daytime broadcasting of TV adverts for alcohol under new legislation aimed at controlling…Wed Dec 29 2004 - 00:00
Teenager with brain damage is back in prisonA brain-damaged teenager who spent five weeks in prison during the year because a health board was unable to find appropriate…Wed Dec 29 2004 - 00:00
Bill will establish regulatory body for charitiesCharities which fail to provide information on their fundraising activities face financial penalties or being "named and shamed…Tue Dec 28 2004 - 00:00
Extra benefit payment aimed at poorest childrenThe Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mr Brennan, is planning to introduce a child benefit payment in the next Budget targeted…Tue Dec 28 2004 - 00:00
Foreign nationals made up 25% of jail committalsPeople born outside Ireland accounted for one-quarter of all committals to prison last year, according to official figures released…Wed Dec 22 2004 - 00:00
Poor set to benefit from BudgetPoverty: The greatest gains of Budget 2005 will go towards the poorest section of the population, according to research conducted…Tue Dec 21 2004 - 00:00
Unpaid leave for childcare to be increasedParents will be able to take time off to care for their children over a longer period, under new Government legislation published…Tue Dec 21 2004 - 00:00
SIPTU welcomes move but demands paid parental leaveUnions yesterday welcomed plans for more flexible parental leave but called for measures to make it a more affordable option …Tue Dec 21 2004 - 00:00
Gap between rich and poor 'unacceptably high'The gap between rich and poor is unacceptably wide and growing and needs to be bridged urgently, the Minister for Social and …Sat Dec 18 2004 - 00:00
Number at primary school age to rise by up to 29%The number of children of primary school-going age is projected to increase dramatically over the next decade, according to the…Thu Dec 16 2004 - 00:00
Migrant female 'domestics ' exploited, says reportForeign women employed as domestic workers in middle-class Irish homes are being subjected to widespread mistreatment and exploitation…Thu Dec 16 2004 - 00:00
Closure of beds for Dublin homeless children criticisedA health board decision to close down six emergency beds for homeless children in the Dublin area has sparked a row with childcare…Thu Dec 16 2004 - 00:00
New residency proposals greeted by campaignersGovernment plans to regularise the position of non-national parents of Irish-born children who are seeking residency in the State…Wed Dec 15 2004 - 00:00
Prescriptions to combat depression raise concernMental health: A senior Government adviser on mental health has expressed concern that doctors are over-prescribing anti-depressants…Tue Dec 14 2004 - 00:00
Immigrants with Irish children may get reprieveThousands of immigrants who have claimed residency in the State as parents of Irish-born children will be given a chance to make…Tue Dec 14 2004 - 00:00
Women's pay still well below men'sWomen continue to earn almost one-fifth less than men, according to a report published by the Central Statistics Office.Tue Dec 14 2004 - 00:00
Agency to monitor nursing home careNursing homes are to be subject to inspections by an independent statutory agency as part of an initiative aimed at improving…Mon Dec 13 2004 - 00:00
750 civil actions pending against Garda membersThe Garda Síochána is facing around 750 civil actions against members of the force relating to assault, unlawful arrest and other…Sat Dec 11 2004 - 00:00
Asylum-seekers allege intimidation at centresDepartment of Justice officials are investigating a number of allegations of intimidation, assault and sub-standard care in some…Thu Dec 09 2004 - 00:00
Concern at delay in standardising disability careOfficials within the National Disability Authority (NDA) have expressed concern at Government delays in implementing national…Wed Dec 08 2004 - 00:00
Study urges better access for disabled to jobs marketPeople with a disability or health problem are almost twice as likely to be without a job compared to other members of the community…Wed Dec 08 2004 - 00:00
New law restricts rent to open market normsLandlords may be prosecuted for demanding rent greater than the market value under new laws which came into effect yesterday.Tue Dec 07 2004 - 00:00
Private nursing home care loophole to be closedThe Government is to introduce legislation early in the new year to prevent older people with medical cards from becoming automatically…Tue Dec 07 2004 - 00:00
More than 6,200 parents neglect child maintenanceMore than 6,200 partners are not paying child maintenance to the other parent, authorities say.Mon Dec 06 2004 - 00:00
Concern rises over drug use outside DublinThe Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, is to meet the Garda Commissioner shortly following rising concerns about the drugs problem…Mon Dec 06 2004 - 00:00
17,000 young referred to Garda programmeMore than 250 children under the age of 10 were referred to a Garda programme last year aimed at cautioning rather than prosecuting…Fri Dec 03 2004 - 00:00
Healy praises level of welfare increasesCORI reaction: Father Seán Healy, who had addressed the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party at Inchydoney on the need for greater…Fri Dec 03 2004 - 00:00
Legislation will raise premiums, say insurersThe Irish Insurance Federation has warned of "significant" premium increases for all life assurance policy holders if the Disability…Wed Dec 01 2004 - 00:00
2,000 in disability group lack servicesMore than 2,000 intellectually disabled people are without any service or a major element of a service, according to new official…Wed Dec 01 2004 - 00:00
Claims of sex abuse of older people investigatedGardaí are investigating a series of claims of sexual abuse of older people being cared for at home or in nursing homes, it has…Fri Nov 26 2004 - 00:00
Child abuse bill to fall short of estimatesDepartment of Education officials expect the final compensation bill arising from the State's compensation scheme for victims…Thu Nov 25 2004 - 00:00
Concern about brother's return to IraqThe Waterford-based family of an Iraqi citizen who is about to be deported has expressed fear for his safety.Thu Nov 25 2004 - 00:00
Ferns diocese may sell property to pay claimsThe Diocese of Ferns is considering selling off church property in Co Wexford following a series of child sexual abuse claims…Tue Nov 23 2004 - 00:00
Concern at children in adult psychiatric hospitalsThe Children's Ombudsman has expressed concern that the practice of admitting children into adult psychiatric hospitals may be…Tue Nov 23 2004 - 00:00
Father's anger as autistic son (15) spends two years in psychiatric unitJohn's voice grows tight and angry when he speaks of the two years his 15-year-old son has spent in unit 5B of an adult psychiatric…Mon Nov 22 2004 - 00:00
Rights commission says Disability Bill is a 'missed opportunity'The Irish Human Rights Commission has described the Government's Disability Bill as a "missed opportunity" to provide legislation…Mon Nov 22 2004 - 00:00
Tax credit for couples costly - McDowellThe Minister for Justice has warned that the State may not be able to afford to extend tax credits and welfare entitlements for…Mon Nov 22 2004 - 00:00
Children put in adult psychiatric hospitalsA severe shortage in psychiatric services for young people resulted in 24 children under the age of 16 being admitted or detained…Mon Nov 22 2004 - 00:00
Concern over lack of services for teenagersExperts have expressed concern at the lack of mental health services for adolescents following a new report which indicates that…Mon Nov 15 2004 - 00:00
Mental problems 'cause 90% of suicides'More than 90 per cent of people who die by suicide have an undiagnosed or untreated psychiatric disorder, a conference heard …Sat Nov 13 2004 - 00:00
Minister may change rules on pensions over SSIAsGovernment officials have estimated that some 5,000 pensioners could have their social welfare payments affected if Special Savings…Sat Nov 13 2004 - 00:00
Hickey stands over sailing criticismThe president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Mr Pat Hickey, yesterday defended his controversial criticism of the performance…Thu Nov 11 2004 - 00:00