State had 'significant' role in Magdalene laundry referrals

Some 10,000 women and girls entered Magdalene laundries since 1922 with more than a quarter of referrals made or facilitated …

The entrance to the former Magdalene laundry at St Mary's Convent on  Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times
The entrance to the former Magdalene laundry at St Mary's Convent on Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times

Some 10,000 women and girls entered Magdalene laundries since 1922 with more than a quarter of referrals made or facilitated by the State, a report has found.

The 'Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries' was published this afternoon. It found "significant" State involvement in the laundries.

In the report, the committee said it found “no evidence” to support the perception that “unmarried girls” had babies in the laundries or that many of the women were prostitutes.

“The reality is much more complex” committee chairman Dr Martin McAleese writes in the introduction.

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The women admitted to the laundries “have for too long felt the social stigma” of the “wholly inaccurate characterisation” of them as “fallen women”, he said. “[This is] not borne out of facts.”

In the Dáil this afternoon, Taoiseach Enda Kenny expressed his sympathies with survivors of the laundries and the families of those who have died. “To those residents who went into the Magdalene laundries from a variety of ways, 26 per cent from State involvement, I’m sorry for those people that they lived in that kind of environment,” he said. However, he stopped short of issuing a full State apology.

Reasons for Entry

The committee found a wide range of reasons women and girls entered the 10 religious run laundries operating in the State between 1922 and 1996.

Reasons include: referrals by courts, mostly for minor or petty offences; by social services; from industrial and reformatory schools; rejection by foster parents; girls orphaned or in abusive homes; women with mental or physical disabilities; poor and homeless women and girls placed by their families for reasons including socio-moral attitudes.

Women and girls referred from industrial schools and non-State agencies would not have known why they were being sent or how long they had to stay in the laundries, the report finds. Those referred by officials in criminal justice and social services would have been told reason and duration.

“None of us can begin to imagine the confusion and fear experienced by these young girls, in many cases little more than children,” Dr McAleese writes. “Not knowing why they were there, feeling abandoned, wondering whether they had done something wrong and not knowing when, if ever, they would get out to and see their families again”.

State involvement

The committee found “significant State involvement” with the laundries, Dr McAleese writes.

Referrals were made or facilitated by the State made up 26.5 per cent (2,124) of the 8,025 cases for which reasons are known.

Some 8 per cent of women were referred to by the criminal justice system, either on remand, as a condition of probation or less formal referrals such as from the Garda. Some of the criminal justice referrals were based on legislation while others were ad hoc or informal. Common crimes included failure to purchase a ticket, larceny, vagrancy, assault.

Almost 8 per cent were referred from industrial schools, another almost 7 per cent from health and social services and almost 4 per cent from mother and baby homes. Some women were referred to laundries by the health and social services because it was cheaper than State-run facilities, the report said.

The report found direct State involvement in: routes of entry, workplace regulations and inspections, funding and financial assistance to laundries, routes of exit, death registrations.

The committee found the laundries were as workplaces subject to the Factories Acts and inspected by the State to the same extent as commercial laundries. The records show the laundries were generally compliant but standards are not equivalent to current workplaces.

Conditions in the laundries

The girls found themselves alone in a “harsh and physically demanding work environment”, Dr McAleese writes. The laundries were “lonely and frightening” places for many of the women.

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State involvement

The committee found “significant State involvement” with the laundries, Dr McAleese writes.

Referrals were made or facilitated by the State made up 26.5 per cent (2,124) of the 8,025 cases for which reasons are known.

Some 8 per cent of women were referred to by the criminal justice system, either on remand, as a condition of probation or less formal referrals such as from the Garda. Some of the criminal justice referrals were based on legislation while others were ad hoc or informal. Common crimes included failure to purchase a ticket, larceny, vagrancy, assault.

Almost 8 per cent were referred from industrial schools, another almost 7 per cent from health and social services and almost 4 per cent from mother and baby homes. Some women were referred to laundries by the health and social services because it was cheaper than State-run facilities, the report said.

The report found direct State involvement in: routes of entry, workplace regulations and inspections, funding and financial assistance to laundries, routes of exit, death registrations.

The committee found the laundries were as workplaces subject to the Factories Acts and inspected by the State to the same extent as commercial laundries. The records show the laundries were generally compliant but standards are not equivalent to current workplaces.

Conditions in the laundries

The girls found themselves alone in a “harsh and physically demanding work environment”, Dr McAleese writes. The laundries were “lonely and frightening” places for many of the women.

","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"VLCYEFPR2ZANFIW6T5BQ7LGKKA","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The ABQ had no real surprises for students and should have been approachable for them – the examiner looked for content that we’ve seen in recent years so a student well prepared would have been able to handle it well.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"73B7FJ5XHNBJ3POUSYN4KPH4UM","additional_properties":{},"content":"In part B, students were asked to evaluate areas where ‘Inis Bia’ lacked control – specifically credit, stock, quality, and financial control – which was a @fair ask for those familiar with the topic”. Duffy says the ABQ text provided good clear links to each area for students.","type":"text"},{"_id":"IYFNS6V7LBFAZLGK3BT6WMLJ4Q","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The long questions were well-balanced and offered students a broad range of options,” he says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"O3VE4ZVMTZBZZMNXDZ6K2KHD3A","additional_properties":{},"content":"Leaving Cert business, higher level, sections 2 and 3:","type":"text"},{"_id":"KRL3XQYCK5F7VO5OXC7IOIBFUQ","content":"","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"X7EZP56FPVELPK6MDAFLT63SAY","additional_properties":{},"content":"","type":"text"},{"_id":"2A44AJ4D5FFVLHIKHOHVEDWXX4","additional_properties":{},"content":"Overall, Duffy feels most students will have been very satisfied with the questions and the topics covered. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"N7QEBKE42RGEXO5PBUGWGWRPDY","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The examiner tied in plenty of current issues, such as the benefits and challenges of high employment and barriers to free trade,” he says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"K6IHZIENEVHV3INSJUYHGQU2IM","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Stimulus materials were accessible and relevant, including a hotel that hosts Debs events and Glanbia’s acquisition of the whey protein brand Optimum Nutrition.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"HIO4CEQRGVAWTACXWC3USEWZYM","additional_properties":{},"content":"The application-based questions were also well-designed, he says, with students asked to apply the global marketing mix and complete a SWOT analysis for a product of their own choice. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"Q3U32W74LJFLLJLKXOMGM4EEDU","additional_properties":{},"content":"“This gave them a strong opportunity to apply what they’ve learned using real business examples, and to demonstrate a solid understanding of the course content,” he says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"DUW3AU3F4NEMNEIFPM6G33WYGQ","embed":{"config":{"dateTimeField":1749727584835},"id":"timestamp-29000","url":"/"},"subtype":"timestamp_powerup","type":"custom_embed"},{"_id":"JDOPOAYRMBHDNM5ZYHFEP4TMW4","additional_properties":{},"type":"image"},{"_id":"UFR76Z7FNNEJ3AGE2GILHJX65E","additional_properties":{},"content":"First look: Junior Cycle German exam paper","type":"header"},{"_id":"T5SNMRT46REFTOWNOGYHSIMNAY","additional_properties":{},"content":"Thousands of Junior Cycle students have now completed their common level German exam, which included an aural.","type":"text"},{"_id":"L2W5NXPYBJHIBABUQJMPFCWVVY","additional_properties":{},"content":"You can view the paper below:","type":"text"},{"_id":"4ZXHBUXMFRBGXLWOPSC2KR6YE4","content":"","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"VBHKQCXTNFHV5K6MGFESZR4FGM","embed":{"config":{"dateTimeField":1749728095339},"id":"timestamp-41974","url":"/"},"subtype":"timestamp_powerup","type":"custom_embed"},{"_id":"UVFNV3K2VZDNNKTJKNDXIUYG34","additional_properties":{},"type":"image"},{"_id":"SKXHGXUUZVA3LLZCVPLDH3ML6M","additional_properties":{},"content":"A student writes: ‘We were left completely shaken’ ","type":"header"},{"_id":"KDOY7ZICQJDJTAHPIIX37MTHZA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Yesterday’s Leaving Cert history paper was seen by teachers and students alike as especially difficult.","type":"text"},{"_id":"XPW45KTREBHN7NXC4RGSLRUO3Q","additional_properties":{},"content":"We were struck by a message sent to us by a student this morning, describing the level of upset and distress caused to many who sat the exam. The identity of the student is known to us, but the invididual has asked to remain anonymous:","type":"text"},{"_id":"PL5D2FI7HVB75IYZMSMBPYYAH4","additional_properties":{},"content":"I wanted to email you to discuss the devastating experience that was the leaving cert History paper yesterday.","type":"text"},{"_id":"6VKFII7DLZGHXF5QZH6RS3ELYQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"I am a H1 student who studied well over 32 essay titles across 12 large topics for this year’s Leaving cert. I have given countless hours to the subject and have consistently averaged a H1 at 95 percent throughout all my class tests and scored 96 percent on my History mock. Out of all the students who sat the exam this year, I do believe wholeheartedly that with all the effort I put in that I was a strong candidate to receive a H1 however this years exam completely crushed my hopes. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"M53I3EBXRVC5JHAEUXHNOJ2OKQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"To say that everyone was devastated opening the paper would be an understatement. I have never seen the swarms of students leaving the hall who would be scoring the top grades alongside me, left utterly demoralised from the ridiculous essay titles offered across the sections. We have the most thorough and excellent history teacher and yet we were left completely shaken by the choice on the paper. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"FOO62XWOZRFLNF5ESPMLUO7RA4","additional_properties":{},"content":"Not only did the paper break convention with ignoring anniversaries, prioritising personality essays and abandoning many case studies, but the paper also added essays that have never come up before on topics that would not even stretch across 3 paragraphs and repeated topics that came up last year. Many people left well over an hour early, and those who did leave were left extremely upset in the corridors. For many of us this was our first non-core subject exam, leaving us rather shaken at what the next few exams will bring.","type":"text"},{"_id":"LWQN5PF55ZCFVG6WFSLX7YEWI4","additional_properties":{},"content":"I am just as equally prepared for my other subjects and average a similar grade in Art, Classics and English however yesterday’s paper has completely shaken me up. All the nerves that I had from the start of the exams have returned and even after all the work I’ve done over the past few months, my moral has been obliterated.","type":"text"},{"_id":"JL3IQH5JWFBQ7JR6ZANCRYTKX4","additional_properties":{},"content":"I wanted to share my experience because if a H1 student such as myself struggled badly with the paper, I cannot even fathom how other students across the country are feeling. I was sure that the SEC wants students’ grades to reflect all the hard work they have put in over the past few years, however it felt that yesterday’s exam was an exercise to prove that regardless of what was studied, there was more in the minefield to blow apart any confidence we had. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"DNUPEWAVYZESBK3R3UGUITLZ4Y","additional_properties":{},"content":"Sincerely,","type":"text"},{"_id":"T3YUHM3IK5H5PKH3KBI7GMLFGQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"A Concerned Student","type":"text"},{"_id":"VSKFKGLXKJAOPNY7Z3JSJGIPTA","embed":{"config":{"dateTimeField":1749732720000},"id":"timestamp-55128","url":"/"},"subtype":"timestamp_powerup","type":"custom_embed"},{"_id":"OFUCC5WDNREKVCHLWEA63BFEPQ","additional_properties":{},"type":"image"},{"_id":"I6GGVAJTLNDBNMAKP2AM32MFOQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"‘Students who really know their past papers will be delighted’","type":"header"},{"_id":"7FC6H4RACVBQZLZBESJQLGTVEI","additional_properties":{},"content":"We’ve more detailed reaction to the Leaving Cert business paper - and, again, it is all broadly positive.","type":"text"},{"_id":"SX6YHL7SBFFXBBJBAMGOYH7IHQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Keith Hannigan, business teacher at The Institute of Education, says students should find themselves satisfied that everything was “fair and attemptable”.","type":"text"},{"_id":"LOHUUA534RBCVP7S322QED2DU4","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The anticipated bombs never appeared,” he says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"XLKUDOH7Z5DZFBSIF2BBKJBLJ4","additional_properties":{},"content":"Similarly, Katie Jones, a business studies teacher who also works at TheTuitionCentre.ie, says the paper offered students a “broad, balanced and largely student-friendly examination” which many would have been relieved to see on their desks.","type":"text"},{"_id":"VXDYIIFJDFFYXCKJEDURKFZHEU","additional_properties":{},"content":"“This was a paper that gave students real opportunity. It was not designed to catch them out, but rather to allow them to showcase their understanding across a two-year course. However, success hinged on structure and precision,” she says. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"RUYYRKN6PBDNJNN6JCIOOHK7ZY","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The variety of instructional verbs—evaluate, discuss, outline, describe, illustrate, explain—meant students needed to be highly responsive to the demands of each question. Top marks would depend as much on the framing of an answer as on its content.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"7UO46ZPDXZA7BODFMKAEIGIGUE","content":"","type":"raw_html"},{"_id":"NNBHVSB5NVDWBNORUU4SC4CDFQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Section one:","type":"text"},{"_id":"B526XQIOARCP3DSWRFMNYDDAXE","additional_properties":{},"content":"Hannigan says students will have been thrilled with section 1’s short questions. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"TYJEOVD4VNGWBDDP6LCSUTC7Z4","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The mixture of rapid response questions and familiar material recycled from past papers meant that everyone could give every question a solid attempt,” he says. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"WGDZXGOMWJC57OT2M5VQ3YKX54","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The inclusion of capital gains tax and inflation were a little more topical than the other questions but also rooted in the staples of the course. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"CNZA5K4KP5DUZNAZ7653WAEH44","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Many students will have flown through this section, saving time but also maybe getting anxious that there might be bombs of questions ahead to throw them of course.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"7DPFPZZJMZBYZMOV2G3M7QPNZQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Byrne says a wide range of choice across the paper meant students at all levels could navigate the questions with confidence. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"OOWIBGHSRFHXPLYZD4I2HHFDWA","additional_properties":{},"content":"However, she says the short questions section proved to be the most demanding element for students. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"NNSJSLPY7NDGXF3VA2J4XREVUM","additional_properties":{},"content":"“While the section included familiar formats such as match-up, acronyms, and multiple choice—giving candidates the opportunity to secure marks on at least three questions with relative ease—it demanded solid theoretical knowledge across all seven units of the course,” she says. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"IMUXXSDTKVCCHEFWVWYRIATRAA","additional_properties":{},"content":"“There was no opportunity to sidestep a weak area; students needed to be well-versed in the full curriculum to feel fully comfortable. For those aiming for top grades, this section set the tone early on: success would come from breadth as well as depth.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"QS2CMAWRVRD4ZJ7U53QSQNUGEE","additional_properties":{},"content":"Applied Business Question (ABQ) ","type":"text"},{"_id":"2TZ5OI547BGJ7PYNNSMUSJPH24","additional_properties":{},"content":"Ths can be a cause of stress for students: there is no choice in questions and previous years have included some tricky takes on the material – so this is where some will have anticipated an upset. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"7T4C2T34PNB65MQSWXYAD2MGUY","additional_properties":{},"content":"However, Hannigan says students were greeted with an array of standard questions that anyone who spent time working over the past papers will recognise. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"H5IQDJUOGFGXVFTG6H2DRRV7TY","additional_properties":{},"content":"“The skills/characteristics of the entrepreneur turned up for a second year, so hopefully students didn’t overlook this when trying to trim down their revision, but the question was accessible that they easily could have spotted a dozen examples in the text,” he says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"LISHJH7DCJD3LKCWC4PNTFW4YU","additional_properties":{},"content":"A question on types of control was “ideal”, Hannigan says, as this is a very popular topic for both question setters and students. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"I4UJF7RJ7RDVZA2HFCTCX2Z3ZQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Many teachers will have predicted the appearance of ‘functions of human resource management (HRM)’, so the final question was a lovely way to close this section,” Hanngan says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"G6BNKU37OJHKVNWTXWMOA2Z6QU","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Many students will have found that they had an abundance of material to include, and so with the time saved in section one, they could have listed more elements to try and secure the grade.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"ZQSGGAJ6HRF4NMFG6KG7XZH26U","additional_properties":{},"content":"Similarly, Byrne says the ABQ stood out as a “highlight”, given that it was “familiar in structure, fair in content, and well aligned with previous years”. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"3OV3OPNIT5E4BOUHXRFO44GGWI","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Students who have invested time in ABQ preparation will likely have found it both manageable and rewarding,” she says. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"NNI35GIDBBDDDKZIPV3FTSTUKE","additional_properties":{},"content":"Section 3","type":"text"},{"_id":"LAZ6E566JJEMPB7NYM3IJWIMGY","additional_properties":{},"content":"This section tested students’ grasp of the fundamentals, but with two questions based on the three chapters of unit one, it was “nicely approachable”, says Hannigan. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"G3EDX3TFV5CJRFWHLGAEBGQ2DA","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Question 1 focused on material that would have been mainstays of class tests since 5th Year: elements of a contract, industrial action, discrimination,” he says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"N4GBJ2E6OZAPDIAS5ZW6NQRAFY","additional_properties":{},"content":"These, he says, were then mirrored in Question 4 (a bonus question added due to the Covid adjustments) with the mention of breach of contract and fair dismissal. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"4O5BZBD4KFGHHKEWVKG55K5YXE","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Not everything here was straight forward as Question 5 required students to have a good grasp of McGregor’s Theory X, which can be awkward to know how to effectively address in the exam context,” he says. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"4DOQFLIUSRGRTMNWEZIG5AELPI","additional_properties":{},"content":"“However, while this topic is tougher and can cause challenges, this is helped by the previous appearance on the paper two years ago. Students armed with not only the past papers but insight into the marking scheme from that year will know how to make the most of this.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"MNEZB4J4ORCQTEZWBGAOTSX5XQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Byrne feels question 2 on unit six offered a well-balanced question on the domestic business environment that was “approachable, familiar, and relevant”. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"G2XFZJNWHBDDFAUHXPT2OFAOXA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Meanwhile, unit seven (Q3A) asked students to explain the impact of an established EU directive or regulation. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"IGANXWW4RJHWJMBY2M3PHSDMDE","additional_properties":{},"content":"“While achievable for those who had studied this unit, the need to refer to a specific directive may have made it less attractive to those without a strong memorised example to draw from,” she says. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"4CP3VNQ4JRD2JCWRHP7TQN6FUI","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Question 5C from Unit 3, introduced a more interpretive challenge by asking students to identify factors influencing a manager’s adoption of Theory X. While syllabus-aligned, the question’s framing required students to think critically, and may not have been as immediately accessible as others.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"BL5XE7FOQVDZDPHAYYZ6YOUZNQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Similarly, Byrne says Question 7C asked students to “discuss how Anthem Transport Ltd could use different medium-term sources of finance for their medium-term needs.” ","type":"text"},{"_id":"YZEKJPTREBEOLJDPWYDUGGRPQA","additional_properties":{},"content":"While the topic itself was expected, she says the repeated phrase “medium-term” could have introduced a moment of hesitation or confusion for some students. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"R4HRSKZIW5HQ5MF5GOIF4TM3ZI","additional_properties":{},"content":"“It wasn’t phrased quite as directly as in previous years, and this could have thrown candidates briefly off-course,” she says, ","type":"text"},{"_id":"JDIRK5QLGNDT5FMD4XJDCOX5GU","additional_properties":{},"content":"Question 8A, which focused on product portfolio, may also have posed a challenge, Byrne says, as it’s a less frequently examined definition. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"B54QZKTXGJDVVM6MNGJJHQ7MUQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Students unfamiliar with this definition may have opted to steer away from this question altogether,” she says.","type":"text"},{"_id":"PIBD2G53RJBXPA2XJIECPZ7GFQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"“On the other hand, numerical questions such as taxation and break-even analysis were welcome additions. They provided a break from dense theory and rewarded students confident in calculations and practical application”. 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","type":"text"},{"_id":"CGNLUGTVKJDO7HCWY7ERGKHSVA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Dr Bolster carried out a postmortem on Mr O’Sullivan at Cork City Mortuary the day after his death.","type":"text"},{"_id":"LOKYMN7AOREGBK2NMFBW3BWMWI","additional_properties":{},"content":"Mr O’Sullivan of Currabower, Lombardstown, Co Cork died at Cork University Hospital after what his family had previously described as a “Trojan battle” to recover from his injuries. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"MAPNO5CKZ5E6DDG56RZDH5R5GY","additional_properties":{},"content":"He was airlifted to hospital on February 6th following a serious last fence fall in Thurles, Co Tipperary. He was just days short of his 25th birthday when he died ten days later. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"76BLAVQLGNHVRDLBQHXF6NGJ7I","additional_properties":{},"content":"Sergeant Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest to facilitate “preparatory work”. Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the family.","type":"text"},{"_id":"ZRFHLR2QEZFP3AJXYSB2YWR7SU","additional_properties":{},"content":"Justin Walsh, an inspector from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), was present at the hearing and confirmed its investigation was yet to be completed. Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represents the O’Sullivan family, was also in attendance. A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"ZNOCMFOBZJFADHOA2XY32VZPKQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Mr O’Sullivan is survived by his parents William and Bernie, his brother Alan, partner Charlotte, and grandmother Mary.","type":"text"},{"_id":"TM5KLBBJMRF7ZBSRPD3OGLIKZY","additional_properties":{},"content":"He shot to public attention two years ago when he won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard Marine Nationale before going on to win the Fred Winter with Jazzy Matty. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"EWORQUQMQJGZHFUISCCRSWISJI","additional_properties":{},"content":"Huge crowds attended his funeral at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork in February. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"5QXX6DJ545FB5BHPNAV3KZBQZQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"His father William told mourners that Michael would want his loved ones to find joy in life in spite of his death. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"SBFYUGSK7JFEVELCGFEJAGN2IU","additional_properties":{},"content":"He said Michael had his heart set on becoming a jockey from an early age and noted that even though his son had managed to receive an honours degree in agricultural science from University College Dublin, they had it on “good authority” he read the Racing Post during lectures.","type":"text"},{"_id":"GN7U44J5GJHG3L6ACH372E6QCE","additional_properties":{},"content":"Mr O’Sullivan’s brother Alan and cousins David O’Sullivan and Sonny McCartan recently took part in the Cork City Marathon to raise funds for Brú Columbanus, a charity that offers free accommodation to families of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals. They decided to raise funds for a site in Wilton, Cork as it was a “safe haven” for the O’Sullivan family when Michael was in intensive care.","type":"text"},{"_id":"Z4GQCQNBMZG53NJ6ZKCGPNC2HA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Over €94,000 has been raised for the charity arising out of the fundraising appeal. ","type":"text"}],"content_restrictions":{"content_code":"metered"},"credits":{"by":[{"additional_properties":{"original":{}},"name":"Olivia Kelleher"}]},"description":{"basic":"24-year-old died following ‘trojan battle’ with injuries sustained at Thurles race in February "},"display_date":"2025-06-12T12:22:47.704Z","headlines":{"basic":"Jockey Michael O’Sullivan died of severe brain trauma, inquest hears ","native":""},"label":{"audio_project_id":{"text":"8948"}},"promo_items":{"basic":{"_id":"NI3CAV2SYRIM4UM2DI3HDAWAAM","auth":{"1":"f976da10b3b178edc92c26feb744b357105c3f53da9a80663451fa6940dd24c0"},"type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/NI3CAV2SYRIM4UM2DI3HDAWAAM.jpg"}},"subtype":"default","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"name":"Ireland"},{"name":"Sport"},{"name":"Racing"}]},"type":"story","website_url":"/ireland/2025/06/12/jockey-michael-osullivan-died-of-severe-brain-trauma-inquest-hears/","websites":{"irishtimes":{"website_section":{"_id":"/ireland","additional_properties":{"original":{}},"name":"Ireland"}}}},{"_id":"OFCECZA6FBAV5HZKHRNRO5OYX4","additional_properties":{"audio_duration":280,"audio_url":"https://cdn.beyondwords.io/audio/projects/8948/podcasts/fcc4d470-8553-4c08-b282-8a6d93c0869e/versions/1749715203/media/0816d89ca36f202af477439437a8fce0_compiled.mp3"},"canonical_url":"/ireland/housing-planning/2025/06/12/what-are-the-planned-changes-to-irelands-rental-market-and-how-will-they-affect-tenants/","content_elements":[{"_id":"B2NJ6V3FVNFKPIYPNTEUSSFINM","additional_properties":{},"content":"Huge changes to Ireland’s rental market beckon under Government reforms aimed at boosting private investment to build more housing – while at the same time strengthening tenant protections. Opposition parties have attacked the plans saying rents will continue to increase. The Government ultimately hopes if more investors can be attracted to deliver more homes, rents will fall in years to come. So what are the changes and what do they mean for current and future renters?","type":"text"},{"_id":"QIDDSK2SWNGY3JSMC4Q57BQBXA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q: What did the Government announce?","type":"header"},{"_id":"6Z6BYYPP75FKVEB2LE7BWBPLPY","additional_properties":{},"content":"A: There is to be a new system of rent controls to cover the entire country, including the almost one-fifth of renters who live outside the existing Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ). Under the new national rent control system – to fully kick in from March 2026 – rent increases for tenancies would be capped in most cases by inflation or a maximum cap of 2 per cent similar to the current RPZ system. There is an exception. Rent control for new apartment blocks would be tied to inflation even when this exceeds 2 per cent as part of efforts to encourage their construction. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"72JHPSRBEBHY7ATRM6PWEEBPU4","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q: What new protections will be in place for renters?","type":"header"},{"_id":"Q32MN2EYPRG7HE6NV2UOCWKSPA","additional_properties":{},"content":"A: There will be the ending of ‘no-fault evictions’ for tenants whose landlords own four or more properties. Smaller landlords will still be able to evict tenants in limited circumstances like a close family member needing the property or if they are in financial difficulty. The Government says that legislation to bring the changes in will also further enhance the current provision of tenancies of unlimited duration with the introduction of rolling tenancies of a minimum of six years. After March next year landlords will be allowed to reset rent to the market rate unless a no-fault eviction occurs when a new tenant moves in or after six years. It will remain prohibited to set a rent above market rent.","type":"text"},{"_id":"Z6FMHSD3IVDKXJSLA2P6F3YXEA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q: So what does this mean for current renters? Will their landlord be able to reset rent while they live in the property?","type":"header"},{"_id":"BOX5ANPLTVG7BHXIEEH6G5E224","additional_properties":{},"content":"A: No. According to the Department of Housing “resetting rules will not apply to existing tenancies”. So the current rules will still be in force indefinitely provided the current tenant does not leave the property. In the case of people living in RPZs that means annual increases capped at up to 2 per cent. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"KPVMQVUNRJHT5BZPRJFEWSUJE4","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q: What about tenants living outside current RPZs?","type":"header"},{"_id":"HVIH6L3RQ5EPDHGWCMP6IOR4LQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"A: There is currently no such cap for people living outside RPZs where the rule is that landlords cannot charge more than the market rate of rent. However, the Government intends to bring forward legislation within weeks to ensure renters living outside RPZs will be covered by the same protections before next March. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"XFLAWNRTXRD7XJRKTX5CV76E4A","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q. Is there a risk of landlords rushing through price hikes before the legislation is introduced?","type":"header"},{"_id":"WN53XQT4QBFZNLF5TVZR6VYFNQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Yes, in some cases. Rents outside RPZs can be reviewed every two years and landlords are allowed to use them to increase rent to the market rate. Some tenants may face a rent review if the two-year anniversary, since the rent was last reviewed, falls before the necessary legislation to extend RPZs is passed.","type":"text"},{"_id":"TAAIQ55RGNCVFFDV7VOV34L5ZA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Opinion: This is a housing strategy written by Flann O’Brien","type":"interstitial_link"},{"_id":"WVXAPGUG7ZHDVLNBHGKAGBFGUM","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q: How does this affect students and others who live in rental properties for shorter periods?","type":"header"},{"_id":"U2UHKYYJ6BDKLMNX6UYLY4KEIU","additional_properties":{},"content":"A: Sinn Féin has raised concern that students will be impacted by rent increases as they seek accommodation limited to the duration of a college year starting each September. The fear is landlords will hike the prices by using the reset option every year once the student leaves and the property becomes vacant the following summer. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has separately raised concern that the changes could affect trainee doctors who are required to frequently relocate throughout their training. The IHCA “believes the proposal to allow landlords to reset rents at market price for new leases could have the unintended consequence of making accommodation even more inaccessible for frontline medical staff”. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"UIUSIQ2ORNFPFP6MSPYJAW3NUE","additional_properties":{},"content":"On these issues the Department of Housing said that current RPZ restrictions apply to student accommodation and it is “the intention to continue restricting rent increases in the [student specific accommodation] sector.” It said Minister for Housing James Browne is “actively engaging” with colleagues “as part of the drafting of legislation on the tailored arrangements to apply to Student Specific Accommodation”.","type":"text"},{"_id":"NUKK4VJWCJHHROLH5SK5XV4O5A","additional_properties":{},"content":"Q: So when will housing supply ramp up as a result of the reforms, and when will rents start to fall?","type":"header"},{"_id":"DLBT4NESXBHZHGJZAROQSVMKUY","additional_properties":{},"content":"A: Minister for Housing James Browne says the reforms are among a series of measures he is bringing in as part of efforts to increase housing supply in the coming years. But he could not say when there will be a decrease in the current sky-high levels of rent. “I expect rents to fall over time. What that particular length of time is I wouldn’t be able to predict,” he said on Tuesday. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"A7VAGAM4H5FK5BEL5AGJQKCMPE","additional_properties":{},"content":"Rental changes: Tell us your questions using the form below","type":"header"},{"_id":"WHSHUPKOPFFVRLFWKO4Y3FACUI","content":"