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RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Which Dublin residential areas use the most and least electricity?
Analysis: The latest CSO report on electricity consumption in Ireland highlights some interesting facts about usage across the capital and country Electricity consumption in Irish households is up across the board, with every county in the country showing an increase. But in 2024, it was the Dublin postal districts that had the highest proportion of residential consumption at 19%, followed by Cork (12%), Dublin County (6%), Galway (6%), and Kildare (5%). This is according to the latest report on metered electricity consumption from the Central Statistics Office. This found that both residential and non-residential consumption saw a rise of 4% overall between 2023 and 2024, while Urban Residential grew by 5%, and Rural Residential by 3%. Within the Dublin postal districts, Dublin 15 (10%), Dublin 24 (9%) and Dublin 18 (6.5%) had the highest proportions of residential electricity consumption, while Dublin 2 (1.9%), Dublin 10 (1.6%) and Dublin 20 (1.3%) had the lowest. Dublin 15, which covers Ashtown, Blanchardstown, Castleknock, Coolmine, Clonsilla, Corduff, Mulhuddart, Tyrrelstown, Ongar, and Clonee (County Meath), used a total of 172 Gigwatt hours (GWh). Dublin 24, covering Firhouse, Jobstown, Old Bawn, Tallaght, parts of Ballymount, Saggart, Rathcoole and Brittas, consumed 152GWh. While residential electricity consumption was up across all Dublin postal districts between 2023 and 2024, figures from the last decade do reflect some fluctuations in our electricity usage. Overall, usage rose to a peak in 2020 and 2021 during Covid, when many were working from home, and then fell in all areas between 2021 and 2022, when energy prices also skyrocketed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. When looking at usage in any given year, the weather, naturally, has an impact (2015, for example, was a very cold year, as was 2024). Because there are so many factors that feed into consumption, it's difficult to draw definitive conclusions on what's behind any changes in individual Dublin postal districts, says Orla McCarthy, Senior Statistician with the CSO's Climate & Energy Division. One factor is the percentage of BER A-rated homes in a postal district, as they use electricity as their main fuel but are also more energy efficient. From RTÉ Radio 1's This Week, why does Ireland have the most expensive electricity in the EU? The CSO also notes that the postal district could be extracted from the routing key where an Eircode was available. In other cases, there was uncertainty between some postal districts being derived from the street name. Hence the coding at this level should be regarded as only broadly correct. Looking at the total consumption in Dublin postal code areas, McCarthy highlights that it has decreased marginally between 2015 and 2024. At the same time, the number of properties has increased, and the number of properties in Dublin whose main space heating fuel is electricity has increased, implying an "overall reduction" in the use of electricity. Looking at the country overall, median residential electricity consumption rose by 2.3% in 2024 compared with 2023, with all counties showing an increase. Counties with the lowest median residential consumption in 2024 included Donegal (2,650 kWh), Leitrim (2,700 kWh), and Mayo (2,867 kWh), while Kildare recorded the highest median figure at 3,845 kWh, followed by Meath at 3,753kWh. The CSO explains the median can be regarded as typical usage as it is not influenced by outliers in the same way that the mean or average is. Around 10% of residential customers consumed less than 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2024, significantly less than the median consumption of 3,246 kWh. Low consumption levels can indirectly indicate factors such as vacant properties, holiday homes, or energy poverty, and are also influenced by dwelling size and energy efficiency, the CSO said. Overall in 2024, total metered electricity consumption reached 31,903 GWh a 4.3% increase compared with 2023. Non-residential consumption constituted the largest share at 72% of the total. Urban and Rural Residential customers accounted for 18% and 10% respectively, the figures show. Large energy users, which include data centres, used 31% of metered electricity consumption in 2024, up from 30% in 2023. The proportion of electricity used by data centres continues to rise and represents over a fifth of all consumption in Ireland. In 2015, data centres accounted for 5% of consumption, rising to 21% in 2023 and 22% in 2024. Quarterly metered electricity consumption by data centres increased steadily from 290 GWh in the first quarter of 2015 to 1,829 GWh in the fourth quarter of 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, metered electricity consumption by data centres increased by 10% from 6,335GWh to 6,969 GWh. From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, almost 2 million smart meters have been installed, but there is still no easy access to data Elsewhere, the CSO release noted there were 1.9 million residential customers with smart meters by the end of 2024, which is 83% of all residential meters. There was a 10% increase in the number of residential meters between 2015 and 2024, and the highest increases were in counties adjacent to Dublin City, with residential meters in Kildare and Meath both up by 19%. On the subject of electric cars, metered electricity consumption by stand-alone Electric Vehicles (EV) charge points rose by 43% from 23 GWh in 2023 to 33 GWh in 2024.
The Journal
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Ten-year-old girl honoured with bravery award after saving her father's life
A TEN-YEAR-old girl has been honoured for her bravery after saving her father's life by calling an ambulance. Tara Grogan, along with her younger sisters Taylor and Chloe, had been getting ready for a rugby match that morning when their dad, Matthew, collapsed at their home in Cork. 'My sisters woke me up, we were going to a rugby match and then my dad wasn't feeling well and then he fell on the ground,' Tara told Cork's 96FM . 'She said her father was lying on the floor and 'looked really unwell'. Tara, who said that she was 'really scared', quickly rang an ambulance and asked her two younger sisters, Chloe and Taylor, for help. 'I was trying to stay calm and not make them all scared,' Tara said. After dialling 999, Tara asked the operator: 'Can I have an ambulance please? My dad is after fainting.' Tara was able to provide the family's Eircode thanks to helpful advice from her mother Claire, a nurse, and the operator advised one of her sisters to put a towel under their father Matthew's head. An ambulance arrived around 20 minutes later, and took Matthew to hospital. Matthew told 96FM that he 'came to' before the ambulance staff arrived to the house, but said that he had some short-term memory loss. Advertisement 'I couldn't actually think of the children's names,' Matthew said, adding that he had already felt unwell that morning. 'I thought it was flu, being perfectly honest,' he said. 'I was a little bit incoherent, and I was wobbling around the place.' He was escorted to the ambulance shortly after it arrived at his house. Matthew said he felt 'such unbelievable pride' in his daughters after the call. 'The pride that I had in Tara, Taylor and Chloe, their actions helped, they were caring, they were attentive, they didn't panic. 'For kids aged ten, nine and six, it's unbelievable maturity and caring,' he said. National Ambulance Service (NAS) officer Pat McCarthy praised Tara's quick response, describing it as 'an incredible act of bravery. When 10 year old Tara Grogan's father collapsed at home she called 999. Knowing the #Eircode helped to save his life. Today she was recognised by the @AmbulanceNAS More tomorrow morning @Corks96FM from 9am @Postvox @DavidMcredmond — Paul Byrne (@PaulByrne_1) June 11, 2025 Tara was presented with an award by the NAS in recognition of her bravery. 'We have adults that wouldn't even act like Tara did and would panic in situations like this,' McCarthy said. 'She was so thoughtful of her two younger siblings who were also amazing on the day. It was incredible the way she took charge at such a young age and kept so calm.' Asked if she had learned anything from the experience, Tara said: 'To just not panic and be prepared.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
More than 4,000 affected by Tipperary boil water notice
The notice is being issued to protect the health of around 4,170 customers following operational issues which impacted the treatment process at the plant. The notice applies only to customers on the Carrick on Suir (Linguan) public water supply which includes customers on the north side of the River Suir as well as those on Friar Street Upper, Corpse Road, Rack Hill, South Quay and Bridge Street on the South side of the River Suir Members of the public should note that boil water notice does not apply to Uisce Éireann customers supplied by the Carrick on Suir Crotty's Lake Water Supply. Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the water quality section of and entering the property's Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann's customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working to rectify the turbidity issues at the treatment plant and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE). Pierce Faherty, Uisce Éireann operations lead, said he regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers. 'Public health is Uisce Éireann number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. 'We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely possible,' he said. Uisce Éireann's drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins, said a spokesperson. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann's enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted, and boil water notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE. Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann can receive direct communication on boil water notices. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Water must be boiled for drinking, drinks made with water, preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating, the brushing of teeth, and the making of ice. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water. What actions should be taken? Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked, for example, washing salads. Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling. Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil - with an automatic kettle - and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink. Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water Preparing infant formula: where a boil water notice is in place, customers can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once, a rolling boil for one minute, and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as 'Natural Mineral Water' as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. 'Natural mineral water can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once – a rolling boil for one minute - and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used. Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children. Uisce Éireann say they are committed to keeping customers informed across multiple platforms 24/7 and encourage customers to engage with them through their website, X channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn and through a customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Uisce Éireann also has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at
Agriland
03-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
40,000 farms now able to access high-speed fibre broadband
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the government's National Broadband Plan (NBP), has announced that more than 40,000 farms can now access high-speed fibre broadband with over 17,000 already connected. Take-up among farms stands at 42.5%, trending significantly higher than the national average of 35%. In total, almost 65,000 farms will have access to high-speed fibre broadband through the National Broadband Plan. This milestone comes as NBI recently announced that more than two thirds of the premises included in its rollout area have now been passed with over 367,000 homes, farms and businesses across the country now able to access high-speed fibre broadband. To date, over 129,000 premises across the country have connected to the NBI Network, with take-up exceeding 60% in areas that were among the first to go live. Chief executive officer (CEO), National Broadband Ireland, Peter Hendrick said: 'We're proud to see such strong adoption of high-speed broadband among the farming community. 'With two in every five farms connected to the NBI Network, the uptake reflects the growing importance of digital tools and services in modern farming. 'A high-speed fibre connection is now an everyday essential for farmers and farm families across Ireland. 'Access to fibre broadband unlocks limitless opportunities and allows farmers to adopt new technologies to increase productivity, profitability and sustainability,' he added. The NBI representative said that rural communities should have access to the same benefits as urban areas – the same entertainment, work-from-home opportunities, and educational resources. 'We encourage farmers and everyone living in rural Ireland to check their Eircode on the NBI website and see if they can get connected today,' he continued. As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or retail service providers (RSPs). As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new fibre-to-the-home network available to all RSPs operating in their rollout area. The National Broadband Ireland website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates. NBI will be responsible for the management of the new national broadband network for at least the next 25 years.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Geraldine Herbert: Driving test waiting times can be driven down by volunteers in the passenger seat
Pairing learners with experienced volunteer drivers will give them a better chance of passing – and not being sent to the back of the queue Today at 21:30 Few rites of passage feel as unevenly stacked as the Irish driving test. Your chances of success can feel like an Eircode lottery. In April, learners in Tallaght, Dublin faced a 43-week wait and a pass rate of 42pc. Over in Loughrea, Galway, it's a different story: the wait time was half as long and the pass rate is 65pc. Same country, same test, very different outcomes. Nationally, the average wait time ballooned from 15 weeks to 27 in just a year – a far cry from the Road Safety Authority's (RSA) promised 10-week turnaround. The RSA's latest report shows that waiting times are falling, with the national average now below 23 weeks and projected to drop sharply as new measures take effect. However, the national pass rate hovers around 53pc, meaning many learners are sent back to the queue multiple times, compounding delays across the system. Two big questions are going unanswered: why are so many learners failing? And what kind of support are they getting before they sit the test? Ireland's approach to learner drivers has long been a patchwork of contradiction and compromise. In 1979, a postal strike caused such a backlog that about 45,000 full driving licences were issued en masse to those with a second provisional licence. For decades, we turned a blind eye to unaccompanied learners and ballooning wait times – a textbook example of the 'Irish solution to an Irish problem'. More recently, though, the pendulum has swung in the other direction. The Clancy Amendment, introduced in 2018, gave gardaí the power to seize vehicles driven by unaccompanied learners. It also made both the driver and the vehicle owner legally accountable. But while this move was necessary – arguably even life-saving – it hasn't fixed the deeper dysfunction. Let's be clear: driving unaccompanied is dangerous. Since 2016, over 80pc of learner drivers involved in fatal crashes were unaccompanied. In 2023 alone, 13 out of 14 fatal learner collisions involved drivers who were alone in the car. The picture is just as grim when it comes to serious injuries – between 2019 and 2023, nearly three-quarters of learner drivers in serious collisions were driving solo. A learner without proper support is not just more likely to fail a test – they're more likely to crash. We've known this for years. So why haven't we fixed it? The purpose of accompanied driving isn't just to meet a legal requirement – it's to help learner drivers build confidence and develop safe habits in a controlled, supportive environment. Real learning happens through steady, supervised practice with the safety net of an experienced passenger. The 12 mandatory essential driver training (EDT) lessons are just a starting point. They were never designed to create fully competent drivers on their own. The system assumes learners will get extra practice between lessons, but many don't have access to a car or someone to sit beside them. For those without this support, the system sets them up to struggle. Relying solely on the EDT lessons leaves many underprepared. Some are tempted to bend the rules, while others are simply locked out, missing opportunities for work, education or independence. Ireland should pilot a national volunteer system, pairing vetted, experienced drivers with learners who lack backup. It's not a new idea. In New Zealand, a similar scheme matches learners with trained volunteer mentors, provides insured vehicles and covers costs like fuel. These programmes have improved pass rates and reduced road offences – but they've also proved a lifeline for those otherwise left behind. Here, volunteers could be drawn from retired drivers, community groups, or local businesses, with training and oversight from the RSA. It's a practical, scalable solution that could genuinely change lives. Technology could also be used more effectively. Digital resources such as Virtual Driving Instructor could be formally integrated into the learning process to help learners structure their practice, track progress and improve between lessons. Evidence from other countries shows they can accelerate learning and reduce costs. A national pilot could offer free or subsidised access to those who need it most. It's not a replacement for instruction, but a smart supplement – especially for those who can't afford multiple extra lessons. And yes, we do need to recruit more testers. But in a country where 83pc of employers report talent shortages – according to the 2025 ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Report – we can't pretend recruitment alone will solve this. What we need is a system that works for everyone: one that gives learners a safe, fair and timely path to independence. We've muddled through for decades. Our young people deserve better.
