Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you really need to know with your breakfast in bed.
1. #GE11: Ahead of tonight’s five-way leaders’ debate, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is travelling to Berlin to meet Angela Merkel, where he’ll discuss FG’s intent to seek changes to the content and cost of the bailout deal. The Irish Independent reports that Eamon Gilmore will focus on the prospect of savage Fine Gael cuts in tonight’s debate, in an attempt to scare voters. Meanwhile, Alan Shatter will outline his party’s plans to hold rogue bankers to account. For the other parties, the focus is on jobs – Micheál Martin is taking part in the Dublin web summit this morning where he will explain Fianna Fáil’s job creation strategy; Labour is launching its plan for jobseekers and Sinn Fein is to launch its proposals on health.
2.#MISSING: Gardaí have appealed for information about a Co Leitrim woman, Caitriona Horan, who has been missing since she was seen outside Trinity college after 5pm last Wednesday, and for a 56-year-old man from Arklow, Shay Prendergast, who was last seen on Saturday.
3. #CORK CRASH: Investigators hope to have analysed the black box flight recorders from last week’s stricken flight by the end of the week, the Irish Times reports. The Irish Sun claims that some of the survivors have already sought the advice of international litigation experts, while the Irish Independent reports that the brother of Heather Elliot says she has already been asking why the plane did not divert to a third airport. Meanwhile, the funerals of two of the victims of the Cork plane crash – Pat Cullinan and Brendan McAleese – are to take place later today.
4. #PRISON OFFICERS: Forty prison officers who were at the centre of a major garda investigation into allegations that they assault, bullied and intimidated inmates will not face charges, the Irish Times reports. However, a new complaints system for prisoners is being introduced.
5. #HARTE FAMILY: The family of Michaela McAreavey have suffered another bereavement, with the death of Mickey Harte’s brother, Paddy – the fourth loss the family have suffered in recent months.
6. #SEX OFFENDERS: Fine Gael is planning to introduce proposals to electronically tag sex offenders, the Irish Daily Mail reports.
7. #EATING DISORDERS: Children as young as 5 are suffering from eating disorders, the Examiner reports.
8. #BONO: Bono is embroiled in a racism row in South Africa, after an interview in which he appeared to suggest support for an anti-apartheid song, which includes the line “shoot the Boer”. He was aware of the furore the song had caused, he reportedly told South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, but added that protest songs were legitimate parts of political activism.
9. #FG VALENTINE: Forgot to buy your special someone a card for Valentine’s Day? Well, fear not – Fine Gael has come to the rescue with its own, er, esoteric offering in the form of a selection of animated e-cards. Remember: it’s the economy, cupid.
John Keats, eat your heart out.
OK,
Review of an Bórd Pleanála and DCC voting on the minimum size for a habitable shoebox.
Could somebody tell Noonan that the country needs homes, not housing.
What’s worse Paul, the new updated shoeboxes they are going to build will cost circa €45k each.
Noonan doesn’t care Paul he has a gold caret pension no matter what….
@Paul – this is the new ‘stack and pack’ communist Agenda 21 compliant housing.
€45.5k per house? This won’t happen.
It’s not as simple as 45k each, the 500m will build a few, these get sold for a profit which in turn builds more. They can also use it to or leverage more money.
Yes, with current minimum standards and regulations; I’m very curious if this is achievable.
Leverage above 2 to 1 in a depressed economy is risky enough, the figures don’t add up. Can’t be throwing half a billion of our cash around willy nilly. Starting to look like a feeding frenzy around here.
homes not dog boxes.What sort of a house could be built for 45.000 euros. are there any of these fools proposing such dog boxes.With their big pensions and expenses.GET A GRIP.What about all the houses been held by NAMA give these to the county and city councils for houseing.Some have been idle for years.or is it all money and to hell with the homeless
I can only imagine the state of these when they’re finished, at 45k a piece I know I wouldn’t want to be living in one. That being said I suppose its better than a park bench if you have no other option/motivation.
Is the Irish government investment arm giving loans to irish developers! With some US cover fund of course, but is that the gist of it? Why can’t they borrow off the banks that we bailed out.
Irish banks have lent too much to Irish developers in general already. The money they have to lend can go to for small business and personal loads and home loans and some for some mortgages.
If you read the report produced by the ISIF you will see that the money is going mostly towards the construction of 3 and 4 bed units, which are the units that are badly needed to get families out shoe box apartments and flats all across the country. This is good news
Well said David. The usual suspects in here bemoaning and belittling any good news with nothing tangible to offer themselves except finger pointing. We need more homes in the right locations. The demand is there.
A link to the report would help! I just hope they’re 3 bed apartments rather than more suburban low rise sprawl into our agriculturally productive countryside.
We have way more 3 bed houses than we need in this country. They are under used is the problem. In order to free them up we need smaller properties as options for singles, couples without kids and property for the elderly.
Vast housing estates close to the major employment,schools etc. are occupied by 1 to 2 people. There should be incentives to get them in more suitable housing within these estates.
My mother lives in a 5 bed house on her own. She doesn’t want to leave the area and her neighbours are all in a similar situation.
I would cautiously welcome such news – but it comes way too late – initiatives like this were badly needed when the ordure first hit the airconditioning.
45k per house paying staff an ave wage of 19k per year is 36k per year on the staff. That leaves 9k left for materials or the build. I’m probably missing something here? The sale of these houses would need to be over 100k each to generate a return of 1.1b. I’m sure it will be more. The cost of the shoeboxes I meant.
have your say