There’s no cost-of-living crisis for Ireland’s quietly prosperous class. Who are they?
There is, indeed, a crisis for many people. But there is also a minority doing very well
ESRI
Irish house prices overvalued by 17% ‘with middle-income households hit hardest’
Economic and Social Research Institute notes sustained increase in house prices since mid-2013
Sharp rise in rents charged to new tenants as reforms took effect, RTB reports
New tenants charged average of €1,839 per month, while existing tenants paid €1,513
No country for old people? Ireland’s declining younger population suggests it might be
Faster-than-anticipated fall in number of children under 14 raises questions about how State will pay for ageing population
There is little indication we have a plan for what to do if the AI bubble bursts
Ireland has weathered a lot of economic storms, but this one could catch us off guard
Irish economy shrank by 1.6% in 12 months to end of June, CSO estimates
Volatile numbers come on the back of a surge in exports last year
GP shortages: Where are the most acute problems across the country?
The representative body for Irish GPs warns of three ‘emerging pressure points’
Child benefit reform is a no-brainer. So why has the Government not done it?
Feckless inertia has become actively malign
France’s buildings are becoming unlivable amid heatwave. But air conditioning remains divisive
Air conditioning is a thorny issue but it can form part of a relatively low-carbon response to rising temperatures
‘Pennywise and billions foolish’: Infrastructure adviser criticises historic State approach to big projects
Climate legislation was well-intentioned but ‘just gave rope’ to serial objectors, says Sean O’Driscoll
One-off rural housing guidelines set to be overhauled
Anti-poverty initiative reports 0.7 per cent drop in child poverty from 2024 to 2025
Irish retail insolvencies surge 35% as consumer spending comes under pressure
PwC data shows overall company failure rate remains ‘remarkably’ stable despite economic headwinds
Targeted supports more critical amid a gradual economic slowdown
Marginal reduction in IT employment is probably one of the first manifestations of AI influencing the economy
Economists ‘nervous’ about home-building ramping up to target levels, conference hears
Anxiety based on lack of sustained increase in planning permissions since 2022, says ESRI
Dublin house prices fall, and how to defer your retirement beyond 65
Business Today: The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk
We should halt data centre growth in Ireland unless they use 100% green energy
The optimum location for data centres is where there’s an always-on source of abundant carbon-free energy
Higher Irish SME loan rates still hitting credit demand, ESRI says
Irish small firms still paying interest rates well above EU average
Higher-income Irish households benefit twice as much from fuel supports, ESRI finds
Measures reduce immediate cost increases by about half, but do not fully offset regressive nature of energy inflation, report says
Speaking English has been central to success of Ireland and its emigrants
On the downside for Ireland, speaking a global language has made us complacent on the need for better language skills
Increasing community care likely to put more pressure on services, State think tank says
Implementing reforms will require increasing staff levels, ESRI report finds
Ireland ‘could be forced to borrow next year’ if oil prices keep rising, says top economist
John FitzGerald warns of effects of continuing closure of the Strait of Hormuz
GDP is meaningless. We need new ways of measuring the economy
In Ireland, the CSO and ESRI are thankfully free of political interference, but data collection is beset by other challenges
How does a politician conclude a big truck needs three times more public money than a pensioner?
We have a political economy in which the only currency is the decibel
Ireland needs to wean itself off fossil fuels and start to unhitch its wagon from the US
In a volatile world we can’t take continued Irish economic success for granted
Top tips to make your household finances go further amid soaring energy prices
Batch cooking with own-brand labels remains a good option when times are tight
AI in the workplace: ‘AI is probably an easy scapegoat, almost a victimless crime’
Employers need to engage more with their staff when deploying AI, says the chair of the UK’s Institute for the Future of Work
John FitzGerald: Ireland faces a possible winter recession yet has plundered its war chest
Government fuel package effectively takes from the poor to give to the richer as Strait of Hormuz blockade threatens even higher fuel prices
Households could face electricity price rises within weeks
Europe only has six weeks’ supply of jet fuel because of the Middle East conflict, energy watchdog warns
Electricity bills in Ireland among the highest in Europe
Dependence on natural gas and rising network charges blamed by experts for high energy costs
Irish and global firms struggling to profit from artificial intelligence, says PwC
Businesses are introducing AI pilot schemes, but few are converting the tech into financial returns
Debt shame: ‘I was going to lose my home ... It was one of the darkest times’
Thousands of households are trapped in long-term mortgage arrears, and now fuel debt and buy-now-pay-later schemes are affecting many more
AI is coming to take your well-paid job and Aimee Connolly’s growth plans
Business Today: The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk
Artificial intelligence report should be wake-up call for Coalition
AI is coming for Ireland’s workforce and that will have huge implications for the country’s future
AI revolution to have severe effect on Irish economy with top-end job losses, report warns
AI set to hit up to 7% of jobs in short to medium term
Believe it or not, few EU countries are offering more relief on energy costs than Ireland
The Government announced a €250m package to lower fuel costs and extend fuel allowance payments for four weeks
Ireland’s retrofit reality: From ‘amazing’ home energy results to ‘miserable’ and costly experiences
Retrofitting offers cosy home and energy cost cuts but can also come with financial burdens and bureaucratic nightmares
Oil price rise to have deeper inflation impact than just increases at the pumps
Reading US intentions on Iran is proving next to impossible
House sales above asking prices and how to invest in bonds
Business Today: The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk
No evidence minimum wage hikes cause workers to lose their jobs, study finds
ESRI study analyses impact of recent minimum-wage increases on employment
‘Every day is a milestone’: How specialist schools support teens in deep mental health crisis
Specialist schools support children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties who are temporarily absent from mainstream school
Iran conflict will have lasting impact on prices
Central Bank and ESRI warn of impact from higher energy costs even if Iran crisis ended tomorrow
I won’t be using most SEAI grants to retrofit my house and expect to save money as a result
The only SEAI home energy grant I availed of is for solar roof panels. My experience is that the retrofit grants are inflexible and cumbersome
The Irish Times view on one-off housing: planning for failure
The most extraordinary aspect of the case is how protracted and arduous the process of enforcing the law proved to be
Disabilities and the Government
It appears our desperate calls for help were not deemed desperate enough even though we are one of the main groups in Irish society most at risk from poverty
The difficult choices that could dramatically increase housing supply in Dublin
Inside Business podcast with Ciarán Hancock
Retrofitting will heat your house but freeze your finances
Would cash spent beefing up your home’s Ber rating be better deployed investing in the market?
Leaving Cert performance more likely to be influenced by school than neighbourhood
ESRI report highlights how child’s performance can be significantly influenced by mother’s level of education
Ireland falling well short of its retrofit targets, ESRI report finds
Underdelivery linked to several factors including high costs, administrative complexity and information constraints
Short absences from school linked to lower Leaving Cert grades, study finds
Chronic absences at ages nine and 13 linked to depression and higher stress levels in early adult years
It was an era of body-moralising in Ireland, when obesity was a personal failure
In a culture that treats bodies as projects to be improved, the idea of simply caring for them feels almost radical
Highly educated emigrants are more likely to return
Housing crisis runs the risk of deterring returning emigrants in the current generation, which will damage the economy
You have more transparency buying a steak in Ireland than you do a home
If we want to fix housing, we need more homes. But we also need to fix the process by which homes are sold
David McWilliams on how social media giants are making billions from fake ads
Inside Business podcast with Ciarán Hancock
Ireland’s bidding system for homes ‘driving prices higher’
Tendency for offers to be pushed higher in open auctions managed by estate agents, reveals ESRI study
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices