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Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Big increase in winter flights at Dublin Airport expected after cap suspended
The number of seats that will be available on flights in and out of the capital will rise to just under 17.9 million for the season, a 23pc increase on last winter. Last winter, just under 14.4 million seats were set to be made available by carriers as the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) decided to limit numbers to ensure Dublin Airport adhered to its annual 32 million passenger cap. While the number available next winter is expected to shoot back up to 17.9 million, that is still below the near 18.4 million that were being made available for winter 2023-2024. Aer Lingus intends to have more than 4.7 million seats available this winter. That's 560,000 more than last winter. Ryanair will have 7.54 million, compared with the 6.25 million it had last season. Other international operators, from Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad to US airlines including United, Delta and American, will have hundreds of thousands of extra seats available between them. Dublin Airport's passenger cap is due to a planning condition attached in 2007 to the construction of Terminal 2. However, this year Dublin Airport will handle about 36.3 million passengers, following decisions by the High Court that effectively paused the cap while certain matters related to aircraft take-off and landing slot allocations are being examined by the European Court of Justice. It is not likely to deliver a ruling on those matters until summer next year. Dublin Airport's slots are managed by UK-based firm Airport Coordination. Its initial co-ordination report for the coming winter period, which covers October 26 to March 28 next year, shows the dramatic increase in the planned seat availability now that the IAA cannot, for the time being at least, limit the number at Dublin Airport. The report shows there was demand for 103,020 take-off and landing slots for the season, with 102,754 allocated. New slots for the period were requested by a slew of airlines, from Aer Lingus and Ryanair, to Hainan Airlines, Emirates and Etihad. Ryanair remains by far the biggest operator at Dublin Airport for the season, with 39pc of allocated slots for the winter. Aer Lingus has 23pc. Emerald Airlines, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service, has just under 13pc. The largest non-Irish long-haul carrier out of Dublin is United Airlines, with 1,080 slots for the winter, followed by Emirates and Qatar Airways. The report from Airport Coordination notes that some new destinations which intended to be operated next winter include routes to Albania's capital, Tirana, as well as to Rabat in Morocco and a direct service to Derry. The Government has pledged to have the cap removed. While Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has suggested legislation will be brought forward in the autumn to address the cap, it could take some time before it is removed. Dublin Airport is set for its busiest ever summer, with passenger numbers expected to surpass 10 million for the season. It expects to have a number of days where passenger numbers will significantly exceed 100,000.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘Take up among those with non-Irish backgrounds is unbelievable' – the rise of Gaelic games in British schools
There has been a surge in interest among children from non-Irish backgrounds in playing Gaelic football in the UK, according to a Carlow man whose job involves getting the sports on to the PE curriculum in British schools.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Families create colossal beach art in Waterford and Wexford to inspire fostering
Today at 07:36 Tusla foster families from across the southeast came together over the weekend to create two colossal pieces of sand art at Duncannon and Tramore beaches depicting what community and neighbourhood means to them. Working alongside visual artist Sean Corcoran, the families created two 400-foot wide pieces of sand art, one at Duncannon Beach, Wexford on Saturday, and another at Tramore beach in Waterford on Sunday. Their details reflected the families' responses from a Tusla-organised workshop earlier this week in which they were asked: what does community mean to me, and what does my dream neighbourhood look like? A smiley sun, angels, dogs, a gingerbread man, rainbow, bouncy flowers, families and people linking hands were among the images etched with rakes in the sand over three hours. The finished pieces were each the size of four football pitches and a site to behold for visitors to the area. The undertaking coincides with National Fostering Awareness Month, an essential campaign throughout June by Tusla, the statutory agency for, and experts in, foster care. The campaign raises awareness about the ongoing need for foster carers in communities across Ireland and how rewarding it is to foster a child. Ireland is among the world leaders in foster care, and across Ireland 3,817 foster carers currently open their homes to 5,021 children. According to Tusla, having foster carers in communities across the country is crucial as, when a child is fostered, it is important that the child stays within his or her community and can remain in the same school, circle of friends and continue with after-school activities. 'As part of National Fostering Awareness Month, we are asking people from diverse backgrounds, in communities across Ireland, to consider providing all types of foster care. It could be respite care on weekends, a short-term emergency placement, or a longer-term placement for children and young people who cannot, for various reasons, live with their birth families,' said Jacqueline Smyth, Tusla Fostering National Lead. Follow Independent Waterford on Facebook 'Tusla foster carers come from all walks of life. This includes those in same-sex relationships, the Traveling Community, non-Irish nationalities, people from different faiths and beliefs, people who have a disability, jobseekers, renters, single people, people who are over 50 years old, couples who work fulltime, and rural as well as urban dwellers,' added Ms Smyth. As the sun set on Duncannon and Tramore's shores, the colossal sand art was eventually washed away by the tides, but foster families hope it will inspire others to consider fostering a child. National Fostering Awareness Month will run throughout June with a host of events and activities around the country, including in-person and online information sessions.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
PwC calls for Capital Gains Tax to be slashed to 20pc in Budget
'In our experience, the 33pc rate is deterring taxpayers from undertaking capital transactions, crystallising gains and reinvesting funds in the Irish economy,' its submission says. 'Not only would a lower rate of CGT increase capital transactions, it would also stimulate and promote the transfer of businesses to the next generation of Irish business leaders. 'It would boost Ireland's attractiveness as an investment location, because entrepreneurs consider future exit strategies when considering where to invest.' Treating the exit of a shareholder from a business as a CGT event, rather than one subject to income tax – which is levied at a higher rate – would achieve this objective, PwC says. It claims many Irish business owners face challenges in securing a smooth exit when they decide to leave. The tax bill inhibits the exit of a shareholder that would allow the incumbent to take over the reins. 'We are seeing instances where fully exiting shareholders are subject to taxation at marginal income tax rates, which can have the unintended consequence of making many bona fide transactions, such as management buy-outs, unviable,' the consultancy's pre-Budget submission says. We have seen Irish businesses opting to sell to external and often non-Irish third parties 'In some cases, we have seen Irish businesses opting to sell to external and often non-Irish third parties (eg private equity funds) to secure a tax-efficient exit, as opposed to passing it on to emerging Irish business leaders, often working within the business being sold.' It points out that both the annual CGT exemption of €1,270, as well as the Capital Acquisitions Tax small gift exemption of €3,000, have not been changed for several decades. As neither has been brought in line with inflation, PwC is proposing both exemptions be increased in the Budget. The company says tax policy could also play a vital role in addressing the housing shortage. 'Soft costs' of construction, such as taxes, can be easier to change quickly than 'hard costs', such as labour and materials, PwC argues. Among the tax measures it suggests is a reduction of the CGT rate when investment properties are sold, if they have been retrofitted. This would increase the attractiveness of retrofitting old property stock, and would also contribute towards Ireland meeting its sustainability targets. PwC says the most pressing issue is to change the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), which was introduced as a land activation measure. The tax is levied on serviced land which has the potential to provide residential housing, but is not being used for that purpose. Where there is a change in ownership of land before it is fully developed, some RZLT deferrals are clawed back. 'Given the increasing popularity of the forward-fund model, particularly with approved housing bodies and other public sector bodies, one significant improvement would be for such transactions to be exempt from clawback provisions,' PwC says. According to new figures from Revenue, approximately 1,800 RZLT returns have been filed to date, with liabilities of almost €40m paid. This is the first year in which a charge arises. In the days leading up to the filing deadline of May 30, Revenue saw a notable increase in the number of site owners registering for RZLT and filing a return. Surcharges, ranging from 10pc to 30pc of the annual liability, apply to late RZLT returns.
Cedar News
10-06-2025
- Cedar News
VIDEO: Thousands of Ballymena Locals Protest After Second Alleged Rape in Two Weeks
Ballymena witnessed a powerful display of community unity as thousands of residents took to the streets to protest the alleged rape of a local woman, marking the second such incident involving an Irish woman in just two weeks. The protests, which began peacefully this morning, have been gaining momentum, as more and more locals voice their anger and concern over what they describe as an escalating issue. In the latest incident, the accused were reportedly non-Irish men, with Romanian translators required in the courtroom to facilitate communication. Details of the case remain under legal protection, but the protestors are calling for justice and an end to what they perceive as an alarming trend of violence and criminal acts within the community. Ballymena has long been home to a sizable Roma gypsy population, and tensions have been building in the wake of these crimes. The protestors, although expressing deep outrage over the alleged events, are seeking a solution that addresses both the need for justice and the integration of different cultural communities within the town. Local leaders have urged for calm and a constructive dialogue between all parties involved, emphasizing the importance of fair trials and the protection of victims. However, the streets of Ballymena remain filled with passionate voices, determined to make their stand and demand change. As the protest continues, many are calling for increased policing, better community outreach, and stronger measures to prevent future violence. The outcome of these protests remains to be seen, but the clear message from Ballymena's citizens is that justice must be served, and the safety of Irish women must be prioritized above all else. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
