Foster families to be given back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, under plans going to cabinet
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary will seek approval to extend access to the scheme, which is expected to benefit around 2,300 more children in 2025.
The allowance is a once off payment to those eligible families to help with the cost of clothes, uniforms and shoes when school starts in Autumn.
The scheme will be extended to those in receipt of the Foster Care Allowance and is payable for children between four and 17 who are eligible, along with those aged between 18 and 22 who are still in full-time education.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach will look to publish the analysis of the Well-Being in Ireland report for 2025, which will be used to determine certain priorities for the upcoming budget.
The fourth of its kind, the report looks at 35 indicators of well-being across 11 sections of society.
While the report will show progress in areas including income and wealth, connections, community and participation, the report has identified areas where more work needs to be done.
The report highlights that a number of groups in society, including single-parent households, lower income households, and renters paying market rates, are struggling compared to other groups.
Areas where Ireland has performed positively over time included the level of the population who felt lonely, the proportion of domestic homes with A or B energy ratings and net Government worth.
Tánaiste Simon Harris will also update cabinet on preparations for Ireland's presidency of the European Union next year.
As part of the presidency, Ireland will host a summit of the European Political Community, the largest meeting Ireland has ever hosted.
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The summit will involve leaders of 47 States as well as several heads of EU institutions and international organisations.
Plans for a programme of engagement to involve children and young people will be developed including initiatives with schools and community groups across the country to encourage awareness.
Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste are expected to brief cabinet colleagues on the upcoming North-South Ministerial Council which will take place in Armagh on Friday. Trade will be high on the agenda for the council including the recent EU-UK deal.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon will bring a memo to cabinet on the first interim report on work by the Timber in Construction Steering Group. The report will recommend looking towards a 'Wood First' policy, which would advocate publicly procured buildings to be constructed using materials primarily of timber other bio-based products.
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Suicide pod inventor ‘vows to bring device to UK' after assisted dying vote despite mystery over ‘murder' of woman
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If passed, it would mean adults in Advertisement read more on the pod Dr Philip Nitschke, It is a human-sized pod which replaces the oxygen inside it with nitrogen, causing death by hypoxia. Dubbed the "Tesla of euthanasia", it is self-operated by a button on the inside, providing death without medical supervision. A camera inside records their final moments, and the video is handed to a coroner. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Dr Nitschke said: 'As soon as we know that the final legislation is in place, we'll start enthusiastically pursuing the option of using the device in the UK. 'We'll be looking to find UK-registered doctors to assist, and of course, someone who wants to use it and satisfies all of the requirements under the law. First woman to die in 'suicide pod' may have been strangled, prosecutor claims "The doctors involved would know that this would attract attention and possible close scrutiny, which by and large most doctors aren't enthusiastic about, so we'd have to find someone who's a little crusading.' Dr Nitschke invented the Sarco in 2012. Advertisement Last year, he developed a double pod that could be used by a couple who wish to die together, He said: 'If we were able to make use of the device available in the UK, there would be quite a few more applications, I imagine, because people want to die in their own home, or more importantly, be able to take the Sarco to some nice place in the UK rather than having to try and go to some strange country.' The suicide pod activist started the process of assisted dying using the pod last year with The Last Resort organisation - an assisted dying group based in Switzerland. However, the pod became the centre of an alleged murder investigation after the first woman to die inside it was allegedly found with strangulation marks on her neck. Advertisement The anonymous woman, 64 and identified as an American citizen, set up in a forest in Switzerland . The woman is said to have initiated the dying process herself by pressing a button while lying in the pod in the middle of the forest. What measures are included in the bill? THE Assisted Dying Bill is one step closer to becoming law, meaning terminally ill adults are set to be given the legal right to end their lives. But the Bill - which has undergone significant changes at each stage - doesn't come without strict safeguards. Many things have been stripped out, so what remains? APPROVAL FROM DOCTORS AND AN EXPERT PANEL When the Bill was originally proposed, it was planned that a High Court judge would have the final say in each and every case. It comes after Labour's Kim Leadbeater had dismissed warnings that judges couldn't handle the cases due to scarce capacity, insisting her Bill would be the 'most robust' in the world. But Ms Leadbeater amended her legislation. The last-minute tweak, proposed just hours before MPs began debating However, applications will now need the approval of two doctors and a new expert panel. This will be made up of a legal figure, psychiatrist and social worker — a key change from the original plan. EATING DISORDERS MPs accepted an amendment ruling out eligibility for anyone seeking to die solely due to stopping eating or drinking. Ms Leadbeater stressed the Bill would exclude those with eating disorders. It followed concern over the wording of the potential law would provide a loophole for those with anorexia to end their own lives. The Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olne tabled the amendment. 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The Journal
6 hours ago
- The Journal
Irish diplomats are to be evacuated from Iran
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The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish embassy in Iran closed & personnel moved over ‘deteriorating situation' fears as Harris ‘increasingly concerned'
IRELAND'S embassy in Iran has been 'temporarily' closed and staff relocated due to the 'deteriorating situation', Simon Harris revealed. The 1 Simon Harris said the decision has not been made lightly Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Harris said the embassy's operations will continue in He explained: 'I have become increasingly concerned about the operational environment for our Embassy in Tehran, and the ability of our diplomatic staff to perform their functions safely. 'In light of the deteriorating situation, following consultation with my officials and in close consultation and coordination with 'This is not a decision that I have taken lightly. Arrangements have been made for the Embassy to continue its operations from Dublin. READ MORE IN NEWS 'Staff at my Department's headquarters have assumed the Embassy's consular functions and remain in contact with the small number of Irish citizens remaining in Iran. 'These arrangements will continue until it is possible for our personnel to return to Iran.' Harris added: 'My Department's travel advice remains that Irish citizens should 'My hope is that a diplomatic solution can be found to resolve this conflict, without further escalation or further loss of life in Iran or in Israel.' Most read in Irish News The Government has been There are more than 30 Irish people living in Iran, but not all of them are expected to leave the country in the immediate future. Moment Israel DOWNS Iranian drone over Syria Meanwhile Israel and Iran have continued to trade strikes a week into their war as The US president has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but America's 'bunker-buster' bombs. US WAR DECISION Trump said he will decide within two weeks whether the US military will be directly involved in the war given the 'substantial chance' for renewed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to be heading to Geneva for meetings with the European Union's top diplomat and counterparts from the UK, France and Germany. Israel said it conducted air strikes into Friday morning in Iran with more than 60 aircraft hitting what it said were industrial sites to manufacture missiles. It also said it hit the headquarters of Iran's Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, known by its acronym SPND.
