Business News

Climate pollution from Ireland’s electricity sector is now at its lowest level for decades, according to new figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The data shows greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation fell by 17.2% in the first six months of this year, on top of a separate 8% reduction last year. The…

The Central Statistics Office said today that its Census Pilot Survey will take place in 44 locations across the country during September. Census 2027 will be the first census in Irish history where the public will have the option to complete their census form online. The CSO is conducting the Census Pilot Survey to test…

Chartered Accountants Ireland and CPA Ireland have started to operate as one institute under the Chartered Accountants Ireland brand. Members of the two Irish-based accountancy bodies first voted on an amalgamation proposal in February. A majority of members voted in favour of uniting the two organisations to create a single institute to better represent the…

Just over 15,000 new electric vehicles have been sold so far this year, down over 25% on the same period last year. The latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) reveal that 1,259 new EVs were registered last month, down over 29% on August last year. The Volkswagen ID.4 has been…

Four out of every ten new homes sold last year across the country changed hands as part of a transaction where multiple units were sold together, new research has claimed. In total there were 7,306 new units sold as part of such “block sales” the analysis by estate agents DNG has found. Block sale buyers…

The wholesale cost of electricity rose 3% in the month to July, new data from the Central Statistics Office shows. It meant that prices were 15.3% higher than they were in July of last year. However, prices are still 58.5% lower than they were in July of 2022, when they were still being severely influenced…

Inflation in Ireland is continuing to ease, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HIPC) is estimated to have increased by 1.1% in the 12 months to August and is up 0.1% since July. This compared to 1.5% in the 12 months to July when…

The Wage Subsidy Scheme, which offers private sector employers a subsidy to provide employment to people with disabilities, is to be expanded. A number of changes to the scheme have been announced following a review of the initiative. The scheme pays a minimum subsidy rate of €6.30 an hour to the employer, which can increase…

Changes to employment permits, designed to make the system more flexible, will come into force from Monday 2 September. Regulations giving effect to the Employment Permits Act were signed today. Under the new rules, certain categories of permit holders will be able to change employer after a nine month period. A new seasonal employment permit…

Consumer confidence dropped slightly in August, according to the latest Credit Union consumer sentiment index. Concerns about household finances in the months ahead and a renewed nervousness about the economy weighed on consumer thinking, the survey states. It suggests that the looming seasonal increase in spending pressures is adding to the lower consumer mood. “The…