A round-up of other home news in brief
Student leaders want talks on college funding
Student leaders are demanding round-table discussions on college funding before Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe proceeds with any plan to reintroduce tuition fees, writes Seán Flynn.
Mr O’Keeffe plans to bring proposals to the Cabinet next month. Earlier this week, he promised to take full account of the rising tax and levy burden on the average taxpayer before framing his proposals.
The Union of Students in Ireland has condemned Mr O’Keeffe’s continued support for fees.
Nursing home inspections due
Independent inspections of all public and private nursing homes across the State will begin in July when new national quality standards for residential care settings are put on a statutory footing, writes Eithne Donnellan.
Minister for Health Mary Harney said yesterday the standards would be published next Monday. The inspection of public and private nursing homes will be carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority. It is understood nursing homes will have to pay annual fees to the authority to cover the cost of the new inspection regime.
Investigation into Finglas murder
Gardaí are continuing to investigate the murder of a man near his home in Finglas on Tuesday night. They believe his murder is related to a drugs feud in the area.
Michael Murray (41), who was shot dead, had been named in court as the killer of Ian Tobin who was shot dead in 2007 at his home in Blanchardstown in a case of mistaken identity.
Separately, detectives are continuing to question eight people arrested yesterday in connection with the murder in Finglas of Graham McNally and Stephen O’Halloran.