One of the biggest private student housing landlords in Ireland, Yugo, run by UK-based Global Student Accommodation (GSA), may take legal measures in response to a government attempt to ban lease operators from enforcing 51-week contracts. The firm voiced its unease over the fast-paced implementation of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act in a letter to the Minister for Higher Education, Patrick O’Donovan, last July. The law mandates students be offered the choice of shorter leases that better align with the academic calendar.
DNG’s recent study highlights the current struggle for many to purchase a home, revealing that a minimal portion of available housing supply is actually accessible to individual buyers. The research, led by DNG research chief Paul Murgatroyd, found that only slightly more than half of new homes sold in 2023 were bought by households, with funds and various organisations grabbing the remainder.
RTÉ, the national broadcaster, is advised not to solely focus on ratings when deciding on content. Director General Kevin Bakhurst, in a chat with Laura Slattery, conveyed this message at the unveiling of its future programme schedule, emphasizing greater flexibility due to secured funding.
According to recent economic data, Ireland’s headline inflation hit a new low of 1.1% amid anticipations of another European Central Bank rate cut. This is the lowest rate since April 2021, as pointed out by Eoin Burke-Kennedy.
Finally, there’s optimistic news for those residing in the southern part of Ireland and seeking to travel abroad without the necessity of going to Dublin. CEO Kenny Jacobs revealed that new flight paths and carriers might soon be launched at Cork Airport, the fastest-growing airport in the country. This announcement follows discussions between several airlines and Cork Airport’s operator, DAA.
Irish Continental Group (ICG), overseer of Irish Ferries, has profited from typical travel resuming post-pandemic, particularly with their recent development of a Dover-Calais route. This favourable situation is reflected in their latest financial results, as reported by Joe Brennan. The first six months of the year saw a 7.4% rise in operating profit, amounting to €17.4 million. Additionally, a 21% spike in the number of cars transported was noted during this period, and the number of passengers increased at an equivalent rate, reaching 1.33 million.
In another ongoing news item, the potential sale of South Dublin sports fields for €1 million continues to unfold. Dominic Coyle informs us that the proposed agreement between the local church and intended buyer, GAA club Geraldines P Moran, has received robust support from the club’s membership. Previously fraught relations between the parish and a juvenile rugby club that has historically used the amenities have also notably decreased.
When it comes to holiday preferences of the Irish population, a majority seem to favour spending their tourist pounds in Spain – a reliable indicator of a destination’s attractiveness. However, customer data from proliferating fintech company Revolut sheds more light on holiday trends of Irish customers. Beyond Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy are counted among the top holiday destinations, according to purchase information. These insights are provided by Ciara O’Brien.