Latest news with #Census2022
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Smokers and vapers paying almost double the price non-smokers pay for life insurance and mortgage cover
Quitting smoking and vaping could save individuals and couples tens of thousands of euro over the lifetime of a mortgage protection, life insurance, and specified illness policy. Vapers are also being warned about the financial consequences of their habit, according to new research from price-comparison site and brokerage firm The research also shows the importance of shopping around, even for non-smokers. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, smokers are being encouraged to quit: not just for their health, but for their wallets too. The research showing that the cost of life insurance is almost double for smokers was carried out this month by comparing prices for smokers and non-smokers from the country's five leading life insurers: Aviva, Irish Life, New Ireland, Royal London Ireland, and Zurich Life. As well as being a price-comparison and switching website, is a broker for both life insurance and mortgages. Smokers would pay at least €192, a difference of almost €33,000 over the term When it comes to mortgage protection insurance, a 38-year-old couple could pay as little as €35.60 a month for €300,000 in cover over 30 years if they are both non-smokers. But if both are smokers, the cost jumps to €70. Bonkers said this is an increase of almost 97pc, or nearly €12,500, over the life of the policy. Mortgage protection cover is a legal requirement for anyone taking out a mortgage in Ireland. Adding €100,000 in specified illness cover to the same policy would cost €101 a month for non-smokers. But smokers would pay at least €192, a difference of almost €33,000 over the term. ADVERTISEMENT The gap is even wider for life cover. Life cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if one of the insured dies during the term of the policy and is considered an essential part of financial planning for families. A non-smoking couple could secure €300,000 in cover over 30 years for around €51 a month, while smokers would pay at least €104. This is a difference of almost 103pc, or almost €19,000 over the lifetime of the policy. And for a standalone specified illness policy, worth €150,000 over 30 years, non-smokers would pay €195.87 a month. Smokers would be charged €333.44 – almost €50,000 extra over the full term. While smoking has declined in recent decades, about 16pc of people aged 15 and over in Ireland still smoke either daily or occasionally, according to Census 2022. However, many more vape. Daragh Cassidy of said vapers, even if they have never smoked in their life, will still be treated as smokers by life insurers. World No Tobacco Day is on May 31 every year. It is an awareness day created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use. Mr Cassidy said: 'Quitting smoking really is good for your pocket as well as your health. It's not just the cost of cigarettes that you'll save on. As our research shows, the price you pay as a smoker for important life insurance products such as mortgage protection, term insurance, specified illness cover and income protection is often close to double what a non-smoker would pay. 'This means kicking the habit can save you tens of thousands of euro over the lifetime of these products.'
BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Health inequalities worsening despite improvements in economic measures, report finds
A new report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has revealed 'clear evidence' of a widening health gap between the most and least disadvantaged communities. The ESRI study, commissioned by Pobal, examines socioeconomic conditions across communities in Ireland. Advertisement Using Census data, the study examines how potential barriers to social inclusion have changed over time and if disadvantaged communities are particularly adversely affected. The report highlights both progress and challenges in Ireland's efforts to promote social inclusion, showing a mixed picture of improving economic conditions alongside worsening health inequalities. Findings from the new research report, published on Tuesday, were collated using the Pobal HP Deprivation Index and two waves of Census data from 2016 and 2022. It found that between 2016 and 2022, some of the potential barriers examined have decreased, while others became more prevalent in certain communities. Advertisement Rates of unemployment and low educational attainment have declined, with the most significant falls occurring in more deprived areas, narrowing the disadvantage gap between affluent and deprived areas. However, the study found a rise in poor health, with increases most pronounced in the most deprived areas, which has exacerbated pre-existing health inequalities. It said that such trends are likely influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic and reflect worsening health outcomes for people living in disadvantaged communities. The report stated that it raises 'important considerations' for healthcare resourcing and allocation across the country in the coming years. Advertisement It also found that some factors are more common in urban or rural areas, further reinforcing the value of examining these barriers spatially. Decline in unemployment was found to be most pronounced in 'independent urban towns', meaning towns which tend to be further from cities and more likely to lack economic opportunities. It also found that the prevalence of ethnic minority populations at the area-level increased across most area types, with largest increases in the more urban areas. According to Pobal, a social inclusion agency working on behalf of Government, barriers to social inclusion are multifaceted and can overlap. Advertisement The ESRI examined at an area-level a range of factors that can act as potential barriers to social inclusion, including unemployment, economic inactivity, low educational attainment, lone parenthood, being a carer, ethnic minority status, having a disability and poor health. It found that while the presence of these characteristics do not always limit individuals' participation in society, they can be associated with a greater risk of social exclusion or marginalisation, particularly when co-occurring. Author of the report, Dr Anne Devlin, said: 'The findings of this report highlight differences in how potential barriers to social inclusion have changed between 2016 and 2022 and how they manifest spatially across Ireland. 'Our findings around a reduced prevalence of economic barriers, such as unemployment, are welcome. Advertisement 'However, questions remain about the quality of the employment. Despite these economic improvements, their resilience in the face of current and future challenges is uncertain.' Ireland Migrants more likely to be in work than Irish-born... Read More Anna Shakespeare, chief executive of Pobal, who commissioned this research, said: 'Understanding the prevalence and patterns of potential barriers to social inclusion is crucial for enabling evidence-based policymaking. 'The publication of this research is particularly timely in the context of the update to Ireland's national public health strategy, 'Healthy Ireland', as well as the re-development of the cross-Government Roadmap to Social Inclusion. 'As an agency working to promote social inclusion and community development, we are committed to bringing forward robust and reliable research which can support Government policy development at this critical juncture.'
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
People in disadvantaged areas face worse health outcomes than before, ESRI report finds
People living in disadvantaged communities in Ireland face worse health outcomes than they previously did, new research on barriers to social inclusion has found. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report, commissioned by Pobal and published on Tuesday, looks at how barriers to social inclusion have changed over time and whether disadvantaged communities are particularly adversely affected. The study used data from the Pobal HP Deprivation Index and the 2016 and 2022 Censuses. Some potential barriers to social inclusion have decreased between the two census years, such as the falling rates of unemployment and low educational attainment in deprived areas. READ MORE The study found the gap between unemployment rates in the most disadvantaged areas and the most affluent areas attenuated between 2016 and 2022, with the difference falling from 24 percentage points to 14 percentage points. [ Children in poorer areas far more likely to develop severe mental health difficulties, says professor Opens in new window ] The report's conclusions note, however, that 'while lower unemployment rates are positive, they do not necessarily translate into better living standards, particularly given rising costs of living and potential job quality concerns'. In contrast to this, the study finds a rise in poor health in the most deprived areas and worsening health outcomes for people living in disadvantaged communities. While the number of people reporting bad or very bad health has increased across all areas, the change is most pronounced in deprived regions. Looking at the results of the 2016 and 2022 censuses, there was an increase of 29 per cent in those in the most deprived areas reporting very bad health, compared to an increase of 22 per cent in the most affluent areas. 'This divergence may be due to long-term Covid-19 outcomes, as research has shown that the most deprived areas experienced greater health impacts, or it may be due to other health-related factors which were impacted by the pandemic. [ Education key to breaking link between poverty in childhood and later life, says ESRI report Opens in new window ] 'For example those in deprived areas with greater health needs pre-pandemic may have suffered disproportionately from the healthcare system pivoting from standard care to emergency pandemic protocols, which meant reduced clinics, operations, screenings etc,' the report stated. The study also found an increased prevalence of ethnic minorities, particularly in cities, while lone-parent households are also more common in urban areas and more deprived areas. Anna Shakespeare, chief executive of Pobal, said the findings 'reinforce the need for place-based policymaking in Ireland'. The study also 'reinforces the need to reflect on the health of the nation, and if this has changed post-pandemic. From the data, there is clear evidence of a widening health gap between the most and least disadvantaged communities. 'This raises important considerations for healthcare resourcing and allocation across the country in the coming years,' Ms Shakespeare said.
BreakingNews.ie
25-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland's 67,000 empty holiday homes: Find out how many are in your area
Are holiday home owners contributing to Ireland's housing crisis? That was the question raised this week when a senior official in Co Mayo called for a 'boycott' of people who own second homes. Advertisement Tom Gilligan, Mayo County Council's director of services for housing, initially called for a community-led initiative targeting people who own holiday homes, describing it as "demanding accountability" from property owners. "It is about trying to get these underutilised, vacant, empty homes back into use," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Wednesday, invoking the historical connection between Mayo and Captain Boycott, whom he characterised as an absentee landlord. However, Mr Gilligan later apologised for "any concern or distress" caused by his proposal. In a statement released by the council on Thursday, he said he was "deeply committed to addressing the complex housing challenges facing Mayo and to working collaboratively with councillors, stakeholders, and the community in doing so". Advertisement Despite the controversy, Mr Gilligan's comments succeeded in highlighting a growing concern backed by concrete data. The 2022 Census revealed a striking trend: holiday homes in the Republic increased by almost 8 per cent between 2016 and 2022, reaching nearly 67,000 properties nationwide. This growth occurred against the backdrop of the State's well-documented housing shortage. The Central Statistics Office defines these "holiday homes" as dwellings that remain unoccupied during the census but are used periodically, typically during summer months. Crucially, they are not classified as vacant homes, meaning they sit outside any policy interventions targeting empty properties. Coastal counties like Kerry, Donegal, Cork and Galway have the highest concentrations of holiday homes. Advertisement In some areas, the numbers are staggering: holiday homes comprise 65 per cent of all housing stock in places like Kilkee in Co Clare and Derrynane in Co Kerry. The statistics present these communities with a fundamental challenge: balancing their tourism-driven economy against local housing needs. In the UK, the authorities have decided to tackle the issue through taxation – house prices plunged in some parts of Wales after the introduction of a 150 per cent council tax premium on second homes. Scotland has implemented supplement taxes on second home purchases, making it more expensive to acquire holiday properties. Advertisement The rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb has also blurred the lines between holiday accommodation and permanent housing stock. Interestingly, recent research suggests that these platforms may not be the primary driver of rental shortages that many assume them to be. A study published last month by the Economic and Social Research Institute found no correlation between increases in Airbnb activity and declining new tenancies between 2019 and 2023. 'This does not mean that Airbnb activity has not had a detrimental impact on the private rental sector (PRS) in specific local markets, but it does not appear to be the root cause of the observed falls in available PRS accommodation nationwide,' the report said. Advertisement Instead, they identified reduced market turnover as a key factor, with many tenants choosing to stay put rather than face higher rents elsewhere or because homeownership remains out of reach. The Government has acknowledged these concerns and plans to introduce a register of short-term letting properties by summer 2026. This system would require landlords to obtain change-of-use planning permission before listing entire houses and apartments on platforms like Airbnb, particularly in designated rent pressure zones. Officials estimate this register could redirect 12,000 properties from the tourism market back into long-term rental accommodation. Whether this measure, combined with other housing initiatives, will meaningfully address the complex housing crisis remains to be seen.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Letters: New office aimed at boosting house-building needs additional primary legislation to achieve its aims
'This office will help secure the enabling infrastructure needed for public and private housing development and unblock infrastructure delays on the ground, maximising the number of homes delivered from the supply pipeline already in place,' he said in response to Dáil questions. The house construction target is 300,000 units from now to 2030. In 1975, just under 27,000 new homes were built; in that year we had a population of 3.19 million. The estimated 2024 population, based on the Census 2022 figure of 5.149 million, is 5.394 million. There were 30,330 new dwelling completions in the whole of 2024. Acknowledging the large number of completions in the 'housing boom' era, the historical fact remains that last year just over 6,000 more homes were completed than 1975, despite a population increase of over 2,200,000 (59pc) in that period. The SHAO faces enormous challenges: unblocking infrastructural delays; facilitating a climate whereby builders can access finance to engage in major developments; increasing the number of houses built directly by housing authorities; minimising the effects of the Nimby culture and judicial reviews; and somehow providing a proper supply of affordable homes for purchase, rather than renting. We are facing a tenure crisis that would have Michael Davitt spinning in his grave, with hundreds of thousands of citizens living in accommodation in which they have not a bathroom tile of equity. Unfortunately, as I cannot see how the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 address any of these issues, or the crippling complexity of our planning process, without empowering additional primary legislation I fear the SHAO mission is doomed. Larry Dunne, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford Why appoint a housing tsar when we already have somebody to do the job? It is the job of the Housing Minister to be the 'housing tsar'. Bill O'Rourke, Crumlin, Dublin 12 Hefty salary of €430,000 would be better spent on providing family homes The €430,000 salary flagged for the next housing tsar would be better spent on renting homes for up to 20 families currently living in emergency accommodation. ADVERTISEMENT Of course, it would also mean not introducing just another bureaucratic layer in attempts to actually solve the housing crisis. Peter Declan O'Halloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan Minister could easily field a couple of football teams with all those assistants Jim O'Sullivan ('Government should stop building empires and start building homes instead' Irish Independent, Letters, April 30) points out that the Housing Minister is supported by three junior ministers, a general secretary and nine assistant secretaries (I would assume several 'advisers' also). Does the appointment of a so-called housing tsar mean the Government does not have confidence in the minister to carry out his duties? Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork Chasm growing between Roman Catholicism and Christianity this century Following the death of Pope Francis, public deliberation on the tenets and beliefs of his successor is widespread. Currently, a group from the US is lobbying cardinals in Rome to appoint a man they wish will undo the great Christian work of Francis. The chasm between Roman Catholicism and actual Christianity is sadly becoming larger in the 21st century. In Robert Harris's excellent fictional novel Conclave, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, disturbed after a dialogue with Cardinal Benitez, thought to himself (page 279): 'Was it really possible that he had spent the last 30 years worshipping the church rather than God?' This sentence, and ignorance of the tradition that cardinals appeal to the Holy Spirit for guidance in electing a pope, illustrates a clear refusal by some to trust God, while ignoring the importance of the Trinity, both as individuals and one God. That they opt to put labels on any who are not of their ilk is totally unchristian. Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia Trump got dressing-down for dressing up – in a blue suit – at Francis's funeral Some sections of the media will stoop to any low to have a go at Donald Trump, probably resulting from a fit of childish pique, having got the US election result so disastrously wrong. The latest, almost farcical weapon of choice, is what one might call 'Blue Suit-Gate'. Apparently, some of these hard-bitten hacks have gone all sensitive over Mr Trump wearing a blue suit at Pope Francis's funeral. The facts undermine this bout of pseudo-fashion sensitivity. First, funeral etiquette dictates that it is perfectly acceptable to wear a blue suit at a funeral, particularly if one is not a chief mourner. I have to confess to the media fashion police that I have comm- itted this 'crime' myself. Guilty as charged. Second, and more importantly, if one looks at the rows of dignitaries seated behind Mr Trump, a substantial number were also wearing, you've guessed it, blue suits. One suspects that had Mr Trump worn a dark suit, it would have been judged as the wrong shade of dark. Eric Conway, Navan, Co Meath Policies have ruffled a few feathers, but president's pace of change impressive Much of what has been written about Donald Trump's first 100 days has been negative – and perhaps justifiably so ('In a mere 100 days, Trump has created a more volatile world', Editorial, April 30). His policies have strained international alliances, unsettled economies and divided public opinion at home and abroad. Yet one cannot ignore the sheer pace at which his administration has moved. In an era when political processes often crawl forward, his ability to implement change – for better or worse – is remarkable. There is an uncomfortable lesson here: energy and initiative, even when misguided, can leave more deliberate democracies wrong-footed. Those who value steadiness and principle must now match that urgency not with haste, but with conviction and a clarity of purpose that resonates across borders.
