Pace of change accelerated last year - CSOLast year, Ireland underwent some of the most rapid social and demographic change ever, statistics for 2004 released yesterday…Fri Oct 21 2005 - 01:00
High-grade pre-schooling 'of major benefit to State'A US expert on early childhood care said yesterday that the State could reap major social and economic benefits if it invests…Fri Oct 21 2005 - 01:00
Negotiations on mental health panels founderThe Mental Health Commission, independent watchdog for the mental health sector, will seek to recruit consultant psychiatrists…Thu Oct 20 2005 - 01:00
Senior doctors accused over delaysFive organisations representing patients in the mental health sector have accused hospital consultants of blocking progress on…Wed Oct 19 2005 - 01:00
Child detention reforms plannedThe Minister of State with responsibility for Children, Brian Lenihan, has said plans to end the detention of children alongside…Wed Oct 19 2005 - 01:00
Call for reform of spending on welfare supportsAn advisory body to the Government will urge radical reform of the way the State spends €1 billion on welfare supports and other…Tue Oct 18 2005 - 01:00
147 juveniles placed in adult prisonsAlmost 150 children and teenagers have been placed in adult prisons since the beginning of this year, in breach of international…Tue Oct 18 2005 - 01:00
New plan to simplify asylum applicationsDepartment of Justice officials are examining plans to speed up the processing of asylum seekers' applications by establishing…Mon Oct 17 2005 - 01:00
Community values under pressure, says HarneyIreland is experiencing the "warning signs" of a decline in community values through the fall-off in the number of people volunteering…Fri Oct 14 2005 - 01:00
Green cards to be 'fast track' to residencySkilled migrant workers and their families with green cards will be able to seek permanent residency rights in the State after…Fri Oct 14 2005 - 01:00
Call for rethink on child care tax policyDevelopers are pocketing tax incentives for the construction of childcare facilities and they are not being passed on to childcare…Thu Oct 13 2005 - 01:00
Campaign by Barnardos aims to lift children out of povertyBarnardos has launched a seven-step campaign which it says could lift thousands of children out of poverty if the Government …Wed Oct 12 2005 - 01:00
Economic cost of suicide 'is €900m'Suicide is costing the economy up to €900 million a year due to lost market output and a range of other cost factors, an Oireachtas…Wed Oct 12 2005 - 01:00
Government pledges extra €2m for devastated regionThe Government yesterday announced additional funding of €2 million to assist immediate relief efforts in Pakistan.Tue Oct 11 2005 - 01:00
Minister criticised on Garda watchdog bodyOpposition parties and civil liberties groups have criticised the manner in which Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is seeking…Mon Oct 10 2005 - 01:00
Proposals to serve school meals in poorer areasPlans to provide breakfasts and dinners at schools in disadvantaged areas are among proposals in a report commissioned by the…Mon Oct 10 2005 - 01:00
Government considering 30% rise in child benefitIncreases in child benefit of up to 30 per cent for the under-fives are among proposals aimed at easing the financial burden …Mon Oct 10 2005 - 01:00
72% in poll back cannabis use for medical needsAlmost three out of four people surveyed in a national study on the prevalence of cannabis use say the drug should be legalised…Sat Oct 08 2005 - 01:00
Hospitals to get guidelines on operations soonNational guidelines advising hospitals to circumcise male infants if requested for religious or cultural reasons are expected…Sat Oct 08 2005 - 01:00
Ethnic groups urged to join GardaMembers of ethnic minorities were yesterday encouraged by senior gardaí to apply to join the force following entry requirement…Fri Oct 07 2005 - 01:00
Awards aim to 'lift barriers' for disabledGovernment departments and State agencies have been encouraged to make their services more accessible to people with disabilities…Thu Oct 06 2005 - 01:00
Alcohol behind increased suicide rateAlcohol is the main cause behind rising suicide rates in Ireland, an Oireachtas health committee heard yesterday.Wed Oct 05 2005 - 01:00
Young people can break cycle of alcohol abuse, says PresidentPresident McAleese yesterday said young people had the potential to "break the cycle of alcohol abuse" which has blighted the…Fri Sept 30 2005 - 01:00
5,000 elderly patients could get care at home, says HarneyMinister for Health Mary Harney yesterday said as many as 5,000 older people who are in nursing homes could be cared for in their…Thu Sept 29 2005 - 01:00
Disabled funding to fall far short - studyA major Government spending package on disability, which was at the centre of last year's Budget, will not be enough to meet …Thu Sept 29 2005 - 01:00
Bogus PPS numbers linked to €50m welfare fraudPersonal Public Service numbers: The use of bogus PPS (Personal Public Service) numbers for claiming welfare benefits may be…Wed Sept 28 2005 - 01:00
36 jailed out of 259 prosecutionsSocial welfare fraud: Thirty-six people received prison sentences for defrauding the social welfare payments system last year…Wed Sept 28 2005 - 01:00
Rise in IQ after autism programmeBehaviour study: Children with autism who receive an intensive form of education in the home can record significant improvements…Tue Sept 27 2005 - 01:00
Electronic voting unlikely to be used in next electionThe electronic voting system, which has cost in excess of €50 million, is unlikely to be used in the next general election, according…Tue Sept 27 2005 - 01:00
State accused on rights obligationsIreland is breaching its international obligations by failing to incorporate key treaties into law which recognise economic, …Tue Sept 27 2005 - 01:00
Awards for those solving social problemsSixteen people who are working to address social problems in the community in new and innovative ways will be recognised tonight…Mon Sept 26 2005 - 01:00
One year's free childcare for all urged in new reportA Government advisory body has recommended that all children should receive a year's free childcare before they go to primary…Mon Sept 26 2005 - 01:00
No clowning: Johnie K wins humanitarian award for workJohn Patrick Kavanagh (otherwise known as Johnie K) has been forced to dodge bullets, flying bricks and the odd beer bottle in…Mon Sept 26 2005 - 01:00
President to host youth forum on abuse of alcoholPresident Mary McAleese is to gather young people from a range of backgrounds for a special forum in Áras an Úachtaráin next …Sat Sept 24 2005 - 01:00
State queried on welfare for EU immigrantsThe European Commission has raised concern over the legality of the Government's decision to refuse social welfare benefits to…Fri Sept 23 2005 - 01:00
Wheelchair society agrees settlement with former CEOThe Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is to seek a new chief executive after it agreed an out-of-court financial settlement …Thu Sept 22 2005 - 01:00
Graveyard excavation in Laois called off by gardaiGardaí in Co Laois called off the excavation of a graveyard plot yesterday after they found no evidence to support claims that…Thu Sept 22 2005 - 01:00
State urged to focus on integrating immigrantsAn international expert on migration has warned that the Government needs to become more focused on the importance of integration…Tue Sept 20 2005 - 01:00
Project to help ethnic minority entrepreneursA project to help hundreds of entrepreneurs from ethnic minorities overcome obstacles to starting up and developing their own…Tue Sept 20 2005 - 01:00
Parents to send autistic boy to WalesThe parents of Lewis O'Carolan, a 14-year-old autistic boy with severe behavioural problems, will today send their son to an …Mon Sept 19 2005 - 01:00
Rostrevor owner fined €8,000 for breaking care rulesThe owner of Rostrevor nursing home in Dublin was fined €8,000 yesterday after pleading guilty to 10 breaches in regulations …Thu Sept 15 2005 - 01:00
Charity needs controls, seminar hearsCharities must take the responsibility for putting in place their own corporate governance systems because of the slow pace of…Wed Sept 14 2005 - 01:00
Childcare cost for parents could be halved, says women's groupThe cost of childcare for parents could be reduced by half under a new 10-year strategy to be introduced today by the National…Wed Sept 14 2005 - 01:00
Half of prostitutes abused as childrenA study has found that half of 22 women working as prostitutes in the Dublin area reported being sexually abused as children.Wed Sept 14 2005 - 01:00
Poverty test will target small areasExperts are drawing up new ways to measure affluence and deprivation in communities, which would be detailed enough to measure…Fri Sept 09 2005 - 01:00
10-year strategy aims to reduce suicidesNew services to treat thousands of people who present in hospital A&E units each year for deliberate self-harm will form …Fri Sept 09 2005 - 01:00
Garda entry changes set to allow non-nationals joinThe Government has approved changes to entry requirements for the Garda as part of an initiative to recruit more non-nationals…Thu Sept 08 2005 - 01:00
Many areas have not benefited from growthA new study on deprivation across the State shows many communities in rural and urban areas are "locked" in poverty despite the…Thu Sept 08 2005 - 01:00
Task force aims to increase community ties in DublinDublin City authorities have established a task force aimed at increasing levels of civic engagement and community ties in neighbourhoods…Tue Sept 06 2005 - 01:00
Woman transported aborted foetus in secretThe European Court of Human Rights will today hear that an Irish woman who had an abortion in Britain felt compelled to "secretly…Tue Sept 06 2005 - 01:00