Ireland

The number of homeless people fell slightly in December, according to Department of Housing, following record figures in November when 14.864 people were hosted in emergency accommodation, of whom 4.510 children

800.000 households, including homes, offices and shops, were left without electricity after the passage of storm Éowyn; according to ESB, the company that manages the electricity grid, some buildings could remain without electricity for a week

U2 frontman Bono was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden; he paid tribute to his bandmates and fellow activists as he became the first Irish recipient of the highest US civilian honour since Mary Robinson, awarded by Barack Obama in 2009

A historic gate in Dublin's Phoenix Park, removed last September after being hit by a council lorry, will be reinstated this month, the Office of Public Works said

PM Harris says Israel's decision to close its embassy in Dublin is 'deeply regrettable' and a sign of the 'diplomacy of distraction', adding Ireland will continue to engage diplomatically, but keep affirming its position on the war in Gaza

New bandaging aims to ease the agony of those living with genetic skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa; Maynooth University is leading research into 'spray on, wash off' bandages that won't cause severe pain when applied or removed, as those now used do

Every year about 300 children contact Childline to report sexual abuse, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Ireland's only 24/7 listening support service for children and young people

4.888 cars were impounded from unaccompanied novice drivers in the first nine months of this year, an increase registered since the Clancy Amendment came into effect, passasing from 2.511 cars in 2019 to 5.035 cars in 2023

Deadline for submitting nominations for the elections is reached: over 600 candidates are on the ballot in 43 constituencies; this is the first election in which political parties must achieve a 40% gender quota, or risk losing half of their state funding

The Dublin Fire Department experienced the busiest Halloween night of the decade, with the number of calls more than double compared to last year, with a total of 494 fire calls, 421 of which were Halloween-related

"It was like a bomb was dropped on us" declared the parents in protest against the plan to move the secondary school 8 km away, from Ongar, in northwest Dublin to Hollywoodrath

It will be a criminal offence to destroy or allow to be damaged the records of 250.000 survivors of historical institutional abuse, under legislation that was fast-tracked this week by Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman