1. Irish-exempt pupils have no difficulties taking other languages
Hundreds of pupils granted exemptions from studying Irish on the grounds of disability in the months leading up to the Leaving Cert had no difficulty studying other languages, figures show. The Department of Education allows students to be excused from studying Irish on the basis of learning disabilities, which include dyslexia. Figures released to The Irish Times show that during the 2014/2015 academic year, a total of 570 Leaving Cert students obtained an exemption on the basis of a learning disability. Of these, 270 went on to study a European language for the Leaving Cert. The figures are significantly higher when the number who secured exemptions prior to the Leaving Cert are included.
Numbers taking Leaving Cert higher maths climbs to new high: Some 35 per cent intend to sit exam which attracts bonus points
Student diary: 'I'm ready to face my long-awaited State exams': School is over and real life is hurtling our way as we finally sit our Leaving Certificate
Parent's diary: I want to support my child through the Leaving Cert: It's a dilemma: how to tell him exams are no big deal without downplaying his efforts?
Brian Mooney's tips for Leaving and Junior Certs: Use time left to organise all your revision notes for papers between now and Friday
Irish is a necessary language: Current primary- and secondary-school curriculums do not even recognise the native Irish speaker.
Examwatch: Full Coverage of the 2016 State examinations
2. Watchdog warns €6bn vital to maintain services
The Government needs to find an extra €6 billion just to maintain the existing level of public services over the next five years, the State's financial watchdog has warned. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) said its "standstill" estimate of expenditure reflected the likely spending pressures posed by inflation and changes to public sector pay alongside an ageing population. In its latest economic assessment, it claimed the Government's medium-term projections for the economy "significantly understated" these pressures and failed to give "an informative picture" of the public finances after 2016. Prior to the last election, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan was challenged over his claim that €12 billion in "new budgetary commitments" would be available to the next government over the following five years.
3. Sale of 4,900 acres to fuel debate about wind energy in Dublin
The debate on the potential for a wind farm in the Dublin mountains seems set to be reopened with the pending sale of 4,900 acres (1,983 hectares) along the Dublin-Wicklow border. The land sale, easily the largest to have come on the open market in recent years, will be handled by agents CBRE on behalf of Nama who are selling the land as part of the distressed assets held by the late Liam Maye, one of the developers of Dundrum Town Centre. Robert Colleran of CBRE is to guide in the region of €2.5 million for the extensive holding which mainly straddles the Dublin-Wicklow border within 15 km of Dublin city centre and 3km south of Tallaght.
4. Over 700 complaints to Dublin City Council about buskers:
One business on Grafton Street in Dublin says it has had to supply noise-blocking earphones to its staff, while another has complained of "tedious" renderings of "woeful karaoke versions of popular elevator hits". In all, more than 700 complaints about buskers have been made to Dublin City Council since tougher bylaws were introduced last year, which led to 123 warning notices and 33 fines. Further curbs on buskers in Dublin, including bans on singing in residential streets in Temple Bar, will now be voted on by city councillors next month. Complaints about buskers included charges that they blocked entry to shops on Grafton Street in particular, with one store manager saying customers could not enter his premises because a dance troupe repeatedly performed outside.
Dublin street cleaning and maintenance may be privatized: Street cleaning and road and housing maintenance jobs in Dublin city are at risk of privatisation following the decision of councillors to block chief executive Owen Keegan's plans for a new "super depot" in Dublin 8.
5. Galway United fans threaten boycott over abortion banner ban
A group of up to 40 Galway United fans have threatened to boycott the club's matches after a fan was banned for holding up a "Repeal the 8th" banner during games. Since April, supporter Joe Loughnane had been bringing the banner, which refers to the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution concerning the right to life of an unborn child, to home games at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway as well as an away match in Dublin. Mr Loughnane said he was ejected from the Galway ground an hour into Friday's match against Derry City and was then handed an indefinite ban from attending games by club chairman Jonathan Corbett. "I was standing in the singing section about 15 minutes into the second half, cheering along with the hard-core Galway United fans. Then I was approached by the events controller who was with two gardaí," he said.
Misc:
Fiscal council warns €6bn vital to maintain services: Watchdog's 'standstill' estimate reflects pressures posed by inflation, pay and ageing
Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane extend Ireland contracts: Two-year deals secured on eve of an upbeat Ireland squad's departure for Euro 2016
No Zika fears for top Irish women athletes: Katie Taylor, Chloe Magee and Ciara Mageean set to travel despite infection scare
Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley queries own ability before MPs: Investors sure to be alarmed after tycoon makes astonishing Westminster admission
Want tragic? Then visit the VIP area of an Irish music festival: Brian Boyd: If you must go to a music festival . . . please keep it to yourself
