Author: splash

Inflation falls below 2% for first time since June 2021 – flash CSO reading

Annual inflation in Ireland fell below the euro zone-wide target of 2% for the first time in almost three years after slowing to 1.7% in March, a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) from the Central Statistics Office shows. Irish inflation peaked at almost 10% year-on-year in the middle of 2022 […]

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Unions join forces in call for major reforms of workers’ rights

Several of Ireland’s largest trade union groups have joined forces calling for a major reform of workers’ rights. The Respect at Work campaign says there should be cross party-political support guaranteeing greater protections for employees in the workplace. SIPTU, the Financial Services Union, Mandate Trade Union and the Communication Workers’ Union are all backing the […]

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Cost of second hand homes in Dublin rise 1.9% in first quarter

The average price of a used property in Dublin rose 1.9% between January and March compared to the previous three months, new data from DNG shows. That’s more than twice the level of growth recorded in the city in the same month of last year and leaves the average price of a resale property in […]

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Pension auto-enrolment: What is it and what will it cost?

After decades of discussion and debate, the prospect of workers being automatically added into a private pension scheme took a step closer this week. On Wednesday the Cabinet approved a Bill that is designed to create an auto-enrolment pension system in Ireland. Following the lead of Britain, New Zealand and Italy, amongst others, the scheme […]

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Manufacturing contracts again in March – PMI

The manufacturing sector contracted in March after briefly returning to growth a month earlier, a survey showed today, with confidence among firms also slumping to the lowest level in more than three years. The AIB S&P Global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell back below the 50 mark denoting growth to 49.6, compared with 52.2 […]

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€10m paid out so far under €125m mortgage interest relief scheme

Just €10m has so far been paid out in mortgage interest relief under the Government scheme announced in the budget, despite €125m being allocated for it. 12,107 PAYE taxpayers have made a claim for the assistance, which is designed to help those who struggled with mortgage repayments last year because of rising interest rates. Of […]

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Cabinet approves Bill to introduce pension auto-enrolment

Draft legislation designed to set up the new pension auto-enrolment system has been approved by the Cabinet. If enacted, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill will result in up to 800,000 private sector workers, who currently do not have a pension, becoming automatically enrolled in one. The aim of the plan is to extend […]

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Price increases in store for consumers from Monday

Inflation in Ireland has fallen significantly in recent months, but a number of cost increases will weigh on consumers from next Monday. From midnight on 1 April, the cost of petrol, diesel and marked fuel oil (green diesel) will rise. It is the latest step by Government to restore excise rates to the levels they […]

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Bill to introduce pension auto-enrolment scheme to go before Cabinet for approval

The Minister for Social Protection will seek Cabinet approval today for draft legislation designed to set up the new pension auto-enrolment system. If enacted, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill will result in up to 800,000 private sector workers, who currently do not have a pension, becoming automatically enrolled in one. The aim of […]

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Record levels of first-time mortgages approved in Feb

Mortgage approvals for first-time buyers hit a record annualised high in February. Figures from Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) show that in the year to the end of last month, first time buyers were given the green light for mortgages worth a total of almost €9 billion. During the month itself, 3,582 mortgages […]

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