Five things to watch in 2025 as the next government takes shape
Year ahead promises no shortage of intrigue and challenge for the political classes as they look to digest a new reality brought about by the year of elections
Patrick O’Donovan
Parents struggling to meet rising cost of student accommodation among complaints to Minister
Minister for Higher Education hears of burden of high cost of rental homes for students in letters of complaint at the start of the academic year
Subsidiary of main National Children’s Hospital contractor to secure major State building project
Analysis by State determines benefits ‘clearly outweigh’ costs of Technological University buildings planned for Galway and Letterkenny, Carlow and Waterford, and Shannon
Limerick County constituency candidates list: Difficult to see any result other than the return of three incumbents
Election 2024: Pressure on services at University Hospital Limerick a major concern in the county
‘Too many teachers in the Dáil’: Are they the most represented profession in the chamber?
Continuous presence in Dáil and ability to reach highest levels of power counter Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary’s claim he could not rely on them to ‘get things done’
Government provides funding to conserve Robert Fisk’s archive at Trinity College Dublin
Veteran war reporter’s records over 50-year career include notes from interviews with Osama bin Laden
A robust science vision must ensure climate and biodiversity research tops national agenda
Thinking in a Climate Emergency: Artificial Intelligence provides immense opportunity for Ireland, if we can address its voracious requirement for power
New college places for medicine, dentistry and other high-points courses
Galway and Limerick universities to offer medicine courses next year to ease CAO points pressure
Minister confirms Philip Nolan no longer ‘chief executive designate’ of new science body Research Ireland
Five senior Science Foundation Ireland staff made protected disclosures last December involving claims against Prof Nolan
Geneticist Aoife McLysaght due to be appointed Government science adviser by Cabinet
New national science forum to enhance ability to respond to challenges such as climate change and pandemic threats
‘I wasn’t responsible’: Former OPW minister says he learned of Oireachtas bike shed cost in media
Patrick O’Donovan agrees with view of Pashcal Donohoe, who said he was ‘embarrassed’ at price paid for structure
Limerick village mooted to host asylum seekers lacks services, says Minister
Plan to use former nursing home site for international protection applicants stalls following concerns
Minister’s intervention stalls refugee accommodation centre opening in Co Limerick
Patrick O’Donovan raised issues with his Cabinet colleague Roderic O’Gorman over proposed facility in his constituency
CAO is a ‘cruel lottery’: Is there a fairer system?
There are alternative college admission models, such as university entrance exams and interviews, but none is perfect
Statutory inquiry likely after report on sexual abuse in schools
Intention of Government is to establish inquiry into potentially thousands of cases of abuse which occurred in the past
Student landlords over-egging the pudding on lease length limits
New law allows tenants to request longer leases
Government accused of student housing U-turn over 51-week lease ban
Student landlord Yugo has threatened Government with legal action over ban
Landlord threatens legal action over ban on forcing students to take 51-week leases
Yugo accuses Government of ‘unseemly haste’ over fast-tracked July legislation
CAO offers: Major effort to minimise use of random selection
Minister for Education Norma Foley announced in April that there will be no change from last year, with grades to stay at the same level
CAO 2024: University chiefs criticise ‘cruel’ grade inflation as some top students lose out on chosen courses
Just over half of this year’s college applicants secure their first choice in CAO offers
English language schools push back against ‘astronomical’ student protection charges
Schools will have to pay a fee of up to €30,000 to QQI, depending on how large they are, followed by an annual charge of up to €20,000 to receive certification
Minister declines to clarify status of Philip Nolan as temporary chief appointed to new research agency
Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland amalgamates Science Foundation Ireland and Irish Research Council with annual budget of more than €300m
Tighter regulation of English language schools on way to sideline ‘rogue’ operators
Annual fees and contributions mandated to ‘learner protection fund’ to provide for students if schools fail
Philip Nolan case continues to complicate establishment of new State agency
Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy refused to grant orders permitting his return to work at SFI pending full determination of his court case
Minister refuses to clarify if Philip Nolan is ‘CEO designate’ of new research agency
Prof Nolan is embroiled in a legal row with board of Science Foundation Ireland
Government will have to decide if Philip Nolan is still its choice to head new Research Ireland organisation
Science Foundation Ireland to be subsumed into new State agency but unclear if Nolan will be involved
Confusion over new protections for student renters as clock ticks down to new academic year
UL student told he would lose his deposit and be held liable for rent if he vacated property after finishing his studies for the year
Philip Nolan v Science Foundation Ireland: The dispute that has rocked Ireland’s science community
Case likely to hinge on issue of whether fair procedures were applied when board of science funding body summarily dismissed director general
Issue of Philip Nolan’s reputation amid SFI dispute ‘at very highest level of seriousness’
It was particularly egregious that allegations of misogyny were made public when they had been dismissed by an investigator as hearsay, says counsel for SFI director general
Prof Philip Nolan dismissal: Minister for Innovation intervened in dispute between SFI and director general
Nolan is before the High Court seeking extension of orders preventing his dismissal from state agency
What next in the Philip Nolan saga?
Science Foundation Ireland will in the High Court attempt to justify its decision to dismiss Nolan as director general of the State agency
What next for dismissed SFI chief Prof Philip Nolan?
Science Foundation Ireland director general departs as State research agency is in the throes of a challenging merger
Waiting for Kay 2: Researchers bemoan demise of Ireland’s supercomputer
More powerful successor to supercomputer - named after pioneering Irish scientist - is due soon but funding has yet to be approved
Our national supercomputer is gone, and the global scientific community is laughing at us
With a computer called K gone from our lives since November, Ireland has a mortifying void in its mega-machine armoury
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Six Nations 2025
Get the latest news, analysis and match reports from the M6N and W6N championships
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices