Latest news with #State-supported
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cost and competitiveness the main challenges for Irish food and drink sector
Cost and competitiveness are the main challenges for Irish food and drink, says Food Drink Ireland (FDI), following its Budget 2026 submission. The FDI, an Ibec group representing the food and drink sector, published a budget submission to help the sector build resilience against increased costs, ongoing trade and supply disruptions and wider competitiveness pressures. FDI director Paul Kelly, said: 'Cost pressures weigh heavily on the sector. The most widely expected cost increases are in the areas of wage growth, investment in sustainability, cost of raw materials, investment in digitalisation and cost of transport. "Our members see the largest business challenge as the cost of labour, followed by the cost of raw materials and the cost of transport. 'Many of these pressures are heavily influenced by Government policy in Ireland and it is critical that budget policy can support the sector in addressing its competitiveness challenges and harness opportunities for further growth, particularly within the context volatile trading environment.' There are seven main aims of FDI's recommendations included as part of its budget submission. The FDI recommend introducing State aid support to transition operations to lower-carbon technologies or investing to grow their markets. The FDI wants the Government to minimise the impact of utility costs by subventing the fixed cost component on energy bills, and absorbing the non-domestic water tariff increase for 2025/26, and to use the PRSI system to help offset the growing labour costs. The organisation also proposes support for upskilling of people within food businesses by introducing a National Training Fund voucher scheme and providing an additional €15m to Skillnet Ireland to help meet current demand and expand the reach of existing networks. In addition, it proposes maximising the impact of the research and development tax credit and expanding the scheme to include incremental innovation in the food sector, process innovation, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and green technologies. The last main aim is to introduce a State-supported export credit insurance scheme. FDI said the budget submission also made several recommendations to support the continuing sustainability journey of the sector.
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
‘Value for money' cited as reason to evict Ukrainians from accommodation
The Department of Justice has cited 'value for money' among its motivations to evict 123 Ukrainians from a temporary accommodation centre in Millstreet, Co Cork. Residents of the Green Glens Arena were devastated to learn that they will have to leave their homes by August 29. The news was outlined in a letter sent to the residents by the Department of Justice. Their decision sparked a campaign by Fiona Corcoran, from Cork charity the Greater Chernobyl Cause, to halt the eviction. Residents were told by the Department of Justice that a letter will be sent with locations of their new accommodation, but they are unsure of when this will arrive or if they will be relocated in Cork. The Department of Justice issued a statement shedding light on its decision: 'As part of the response to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis of the war in Ukraine, the Department of Integration, at the time, contracted for a variety of different commercial properties,' a representative for the department said. 'All accommodation contracted by the department is temporary in nature, and Ukrainian citizens are advised of this when requesting emergency accommodation.' Decrease in demand for accommodation for Ukrainian citizens 'As the demand for accommodation for Ukrainian citizens decreases, and they make their own independent arrangements for accommodation, the department is carrying vacancies in commercial contracts. 'As a result, the department ends contracts on a regular basis in order to ensure value for money and greater oversight of the portfolio. 'This means that a number of Ukrainian citizens who are in State-supported accommodation are being moved to other accommodation.' The department representative added that they need to make the 'best possible use of state funds'. 'Any Ukrainian citizen resident in a property affected will be offered alternative emergency accommodation at a different site if they still require it. 'We need to provide the best we can for all those who come to Ireland fleeing war or oppression in Ukraine and other countries, while balancing this with the requirement to make best possible use of State funds.' The department reiterated its intentions, adding 'the Ukrainian residents at Green Glens Arena, Co Cork', will be relocated by August 29. The department has sent updates, through the accommodation providers, to the residents who will be affected, to let them know that the contract is ending with that provider. Fiona Corcoran, from the Greater Chernobyl Cause, said the charity is committed to preventing this. 'These residents are not just passive recipients of aid. They are working, attending school, and actively striving to rebuild their lives,' Ms Corcoran said. 'Many of them are seeking housing in the local area, but this is made increasingly difficult by the severe shortage of rental accommodations.'
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Two Mayo hotels will no longer house Ukrainian refugees
According to an email sent to elected representatives from the Department of Justice's Community Engagement Team, the 45-room hotel will stop providing accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Hotel Newport, is also to stop providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in the coming months. Residents living in Hotel Newport (7) must vacate by July 31 while the 55 people living in Downhill Inn must relocate by August 29. Located on the Sligo Road in Ballina, The Downhill Inn was one of several Mayo properties that has accommodated Ukrainian refugees after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. At one point, over 20pc of Mayo's tourism bed stock was being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees or international protection applicants. The Department of Justice confirmed that the owners of the Downhill Inn and Hotel Newport have not expressed an interest in providing accommodation to people seeking international protection 'and the Department is not considering them for this use'. 'The need for accommodation for people affected by the war in Ukraine is reducing and this is expected to continue,' the Department said. 'Many people are choosing to move on from State-supported accommodation or are leaving Ireland. State accommodation contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the owner chooses to end their contract. 'Because the Department must ensure value for money and an effective system overall, this means some people will be moved to other locations, if they still require State-contracted accommodation. Properties can then return to their original use.' The Department advised that given 'the number of moves that will take place over the next few weeks, and the dispersed nature of our available accommodation options, new accommodation may not be available in the same area'. Exceptional circumstances regarding provision of accommodation can be raised with the Department, which will consider 'HSE assessed medical need' when allocating follow-on accommodation. 'We appreciate that this is not easy for people and that moving location may be very disruptive. We need to provide the best we can for all those who came to Ireland fleeing the war in Ukraine, while balancing this with the requirement to make best possible use of State funds.' Across the country 12,000 beds returned to tourism from use by the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth from May-November 2024.
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Property prices surge for 20th month in a row piling pressure on new buyers
It was the 20th month in a row of rising home values. Prices were up by 7.5pc in the year to April, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This was compared with a rise of 7.6pc in the year to March. Property prices in Dublin rose by 6.2pc, and prices outside Dublin were up by 8.6pc compared with April last year. The median price of home bought in the period across the State was €365,000. The highest median price for a dwelling was €670,000 in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, while the lowest median price was €185,000 in Leitrim. The most expensive Eircode area over the 12 months to April was A94 in Blackrock, Dublin, with a median price of €750,000. Castlerea, in Co Roscommon, had the least expensive price of €148,000. In April, 3,748 dwelling purchases by households were filed with the Revenue Commissioners at a total value of €1.6bn. These purchases were made up of 2,908 existing dwellings and 840 new dwellings. ADVERTISEMENT Revenue data shows there were 1,458 first-time buyer purchases in April 2025. In the year to April, 49,352 homes were bought by households at market prices were filed with Revenue. Of these, 18,146 were purchased by first time buyer owner-occupiers. This works out at 37pc of the purchases. Former owner-occupiers purchased 25,907 homes, or 52.5pc of the total. The balance of 5,299 (10.7pc) were acquired by non-occupiers, such as State-supported housing charities and funds. The latest price rises are in the wake of the Central Bank again reducing its forecast of how many houses will be built this year, saying it now expects 32,500 – just 2,000 more than last year. It is the second time this year that the bank has reduced its housing forecast. In March, it lowered the prediction to 35,000 from 37,000. The latest development will heap further pressure on the Government, which has set itself a target of delivering 41,000 homes this year, which now seems unattainable. Even that target is less than what most housing experts say is needed to meet demand and clear the backlog – about 52,000 units a year. The slow delivery of new homes comes at a time when demand for housing continues to surge. Close to one in five consumers in this country are looking to rent or buy, the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland said, quoting European Central Bank statistics. Demand for housing in this country is now the second highest in Europe, after the Netherlands. The banking lobby group said 17pc consumers in Ireland, or almost one in five, report that they were looking to rent or buy. This is according to the February 2025 ECB Consumer Expectations Survey.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Historic Mayo mansion will no longer accommodate Ukrainian refugees
Ballinafad House, which accommodated over 30 beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (at one point, will revert to alternative use next month. The 110-room property, owned by Australian Bede Tannock, has accommodated Ukrainian refugees since 2022. The historic property had been providing accommodation and operated as a venue for weddings, civil ceremonies and public gatherings. The Department of Justice has confirmed that the property, and Hotel Newport Holiday Apartments, while revert to original or alternative use. Eight people are affected by the discontinuation of the use of Ballinafad House while eleven were living in the Hotel Newport Holiday Apartments. Approximately 2,400 Ukrainian refugees across the country are to be affected by the change of purpose of 30 properties. The Department of Justice said the contracts with private accommodation providers were not being renewed partly due to a 'reduced need' for such facilities to accommodate BOTPs. 'Many people are choosing to move on from State-supported accommodation or are leaving Ireland,' the department stated. 'State accommodation contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the owner chooses to end their contract.' Those residing in Ballinafad House must relocate by June 6 while those in the Hotel Newport Holiday Apartments must relocate by July 4. It is understood that many of those who had been living in Ballinafad House have now left the property. Built near the village of Belcarra in 1827, Ballinafad House had fallen into disrepair when restoration works began there in March 2014. ADVERTISEMENT The 70,000 square foot property featured on RTE'S 'Great House Revival' and boasts 40 bedrooms, its own chapel and handball court. The five-bay two-storey-over-raised-basement mansion was built by Maurice Blake, a former High Sheriff of County Mayo, who hailed from a well-known Catholic family who pioneered Gaelic games in the locality. In 1908, Maurice and Anne Blake's son, Lieutenant Colonel Count Llewellyn Joseph, donated the building to the Society of African Missions (SMA). The SMA used the building as a secondary school and minor seminary, known as The Sacred Heart College, to prepare students for missionary priesthood as more ancillary buildings were built onto the house. Over 500 priests were ordained there before the seminary closed in 1957. The property was later purchased by Balla Mart, who used it used as an agricultural college. It closed due to a lack of funding in the mid-1970s after five years in operation. This forced 80 boarders and 120 day students to continue their education elsewhere. Plans for a 'detention centre' and a 'multi-million-euro sports complex' at Ballinafad had been reported in The Mayo News years before Mr Tannock acquired the property for €80,000 in 2014. In 2019, Ballinafad House was placed on the market for €2 million.
