News

New Central Bank figures show the downward trend in the level of mortgage arrears seen over the past number of years continued during the second quarter of 2022. The Central Bank said the number of home mortgage accounts in arrears fell by 2,071 in the second quarter of the year after a decline of 292…

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys is bringing proposals to Cabinet to ensure the State pension age remains at 66 – rather than 68 as recommended by the Pension Commission. It is understood Ms Humphreys is also recommending a flexible pension age, in which people who choose to work beyond 66 years of age receive…

Most of us have been peering at our gas and electricity bills through our fingers in recent months. And the fear that accompanies the arrival of what increasingly resembles a mortgage repayment is about to intensify even further. Some have already reported receiving utility bills that are two to three times what they were paying…

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said the main objective of this year’s Budget is “putting more money in people’s pockets” and also reducing the bills people have to pay. Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, he said there are three elements to a household budget, “what you get paid, how much you get to keep…

A new survey shows that more than two in five people in Ireland without a pension have either delayed starting one or delayed their planned retirement date due to the cost-of-living crisis. The survey was commissioned by Pensions Awareness Week. It also reveals that 4% of pension holders have actually cashed in their pensions in…

Oil prices edged higher today but were on track for a weekly decline amid fears of sharp interest rate hikes that would slam global growth and hit fuel demand. Brent crude futures were up 56 cents, or 0.6%, to $91.40 a barrel in early trade, but were down 1.5% for the week so far. US…

European new car registrations grew in August, bringing an end to 13 months of consecutive decline, data from the region’s carmaker association showed today. The number of new vehicles registered in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) grew by 3.4% on the year to 748,961 units, the European Automobile Manufacturers…

The global cost-of-living crisis has added to the urgency for the Government to address Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity position. This is according to the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, as it launches its 2022 Competitiveness Challenge report. The publication of this year’s study coincides with an economic environment in which businesses and consumers are grappling…

New figures from the Central Bank show that the average interest rate on new Irish mortgages in July fell to 2.63%, the fourth fall in a row. Irish mortgage rates were the fourth highest in the euro zone in July, coming behind Greece, Latvia and Germany. This is the first time in over two years…

The phasing out of relief on private health insurance premiums, increases in VAT, the extension of PRSI to all sources of employment income and congestion charges in key urban areas are among the many recommendations contained in the Commission on Taxation and Welfare report. The document, published today, runs to 500 pages. It also suggests…