Rents increase by 9% for new tenancies
Rent increases for new tenancies grew by 9 per cent across the country in the last three months of 2021, according to the latest report from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The rental market watchdog’s quarterly price index of new tenancies put the national standardised average rent at €1,415, with average rents ranging from €1,972 a month in Dublin to €740 in Leitrim.
The 9 per cent increase across new tenancies was the highest year-on-year jump in average rents since late 2017.
Russia suspends gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria
Russian energy giant Gazprom on Wednesday halted gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland for failing to pay for gas in roubles, the Kremlin's toughest response yet to the crippling sanctions imposed by the West for the invasion of Ukraine.
Poland and Bulgaria are the first countries to have their gas cut off by Europe's main supplier since the February 24th invasion of Ukraine that has killed thousands of people, displaced millions more and raised fears of a broader conflict.
"Gazprom has completely suspended gas supplies to Bulgargaz (Bulgaria) and PGNiG (Poland) due to absence of payments in roubles," Gazprom said in a statement.
Dáil to vote on Sinn Féin motion to scrap turf ban plans
A Sinn Féin TD has accused Government backbenchers of “pantomime” over proposals to ban the sale and distribution of turf.
Regulations to ban the fuel’s commercial sale and distribution – but not its burning – are due to come into force from September, and have been subject to heavy criticism from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives in western and midland counties.
Roscommon–Galway TD Claire Kerrane said many Government members who have criticised the proposals were not so vocal during a Dáil debate on the matter last night.
It comes as a vote is set to take place in the Dáil tonight on a Sinn Féin motion to scrap the plans to ban the commercial sale and distribution of turf.
Leo Varadkar in US for trade and investment mission
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar is on an IDA Ireland trade and investment mission in the US.
As part of the mission, he will present IDA Ireland's Special Recognition Award to the Google CEO.
Irish origin companies employ 100,000 people in the US supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Five arrested after leading Gardaí on high-speed chase
Gardaí have arrested five men in connection with investigations into criminal activity, with the incident involving a vehicle that failed to stop for gardaí and later crashed as it attempted to evade them.
Gardaí intercepted the vehicle on Tuesday evening in Co Meath as part of ongoing investigations into criminal activity in the Leinster region.
This vehicle failed to stop for officers, and a "managed containment operation" ensued.
This operation ended shortly before 8pm when the offending vehicle was involved in a single-vehicle road traffic collision on the Newbridge Road in Naas.
Female pedestrian dies following road collision in Sligo
A female pedestrian in her 70s has been killed in a road traffic collision in Sligo town.
Gardaí are at the scene of the incident which occurred at approximately 4pm at the junction of Castle Street and Market Street.
A male pedestrian sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Sligo University Hospital.
The driver and passenger of the car involved were also taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
