Dog attack arrest
Gardaí have arrested a woman in connection with a serious dog attack in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
On Sunday, November 27th, a nine-year-old boy sustained serious injuries in the attack involving a pitbull cross.
A woman aged in her 30s was arrested on Monday morning and is currently detained at Enniscorthy Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Cold snap
The public are being urged to be winter ready as temperatures are set to drop to -6 degrees later this week.
Met Éireann's head of forecasting Evelyn Cusack warned it will be bitterly cold this week with hail, sleet and snow forecast for the north-west on Wednesday night.
An air mass from the Arctic will bring the cold weather which is a “real reverse” from the very mild November temperatures, she said, adding the worst of the weather will hit on Wednesday night and the low temperatures will continue through the weekend with temperatures as low as -5/-6 degrees.
Christmas spending
Consumers will spend an average of €1,200 on Christmas shopping this year, while households with children will spend almost €1,600.
New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission shows more than two-thirds plan to use savings to pay for presents, food and decorations.
One in four say they will borrow money to fund the festive season.
Cost-of-living squeeze
Just over half (54 per cent) of households with children reported cutting back on food to save money over the past year.
The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed 96 per cent of respondents said they are concerned about the cost of living, with 94 per cent adding they have made spending cuts in the past 12 months.
Almost two thirds of households (62 per cent) said they cut their spending on utilities, while 58 per cent of people over 70 said they reduced their socialising in order to manage expenses.
Overall, 80 per cent of respondents in the October-November Pulse Survey said they have seen a decrease in disposable income over the last year, and 64 per cent believe their financial situation will worsen over the next 12 months.
