EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories, a little before nine, you need to know with your morning coffee.

1. #REFORM: The Education Minister is due to criticise the slow progress Catholic schools are making when it comes to reform. There are also plans to allow students to easily opt-out of religion classes.

2. #SHANNON: Almost 350 civilian United States planes carrying war munitions were allowed to land at Shannon airport last year. Thirteen overflights were refused due to the nature of their cargo.

3. #KOREA: There are fears that North Korea could be about to carry out a fourth nuclear test. It comes just days ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama to the region.

4. RECOVERY: 30,000 families have been on social housing waiting lists for more than four years, Social Justice Ireland has revealed. The organisation is also calling for Ireland’s corporate tax rate to be more strictly enforced.

5. #ONLY WAY IS UP: Minister Alan Shatter has said there are no plans to try to abolish upward-only rent reviews. He cites difficulties involving the “contractual relationships of private parties”.

6. #UKRAINE: Images have been released that authorities claim prove that militants in Ukraine are actually Russian troops.

7. #HEALTH CARE: Empty beds in residential child care centres are costing taxpayers up to €20 million per year, a report seen by the Irish Times reveals. Private operators have been charging the HSE as much as €13,000 per week.

8 #DRUG USERS: The number of methadone users in Ireland has risen over the past three years. Groups have reacted to the figures by calling for more resources to get people off drugs entirely.

9. #RESHUFFLE: Ministers Leo Varadkar and James Reilly may swap ministries in a Cabinet reshuffle, the Irish Independent reports. This is expected to happen later this year.