Rental debts facing Louth’s social housing tenants are among the highest in the north east region, according to new figures obtained this week.

Louth County Council is owed almost €4 million by tenants of council managed homes, with 1,404 accounts in debt. Over 1,000 of these are facing rents greater than 12 weeks.

Local councillors have been voicing their concerns about the rising level of monies owed in back rent, with the issue being frequently highlighted at municipal and county council mSpeaking at the July meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr. Pio Smith described the €4.1 million owed in Louth as: “A very significant amount of money, which seems to be growing year on year.”

Councillor Smith spoke to us this morning on The Agenda this morning about this.

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This morning on The Agenda we spoke to local Aontu Councillor in Trim, David Boyne, whose home has been targeted by thugs for the third time.

Councillor Boyne believes he is being targeted because of his political stance and role in the local community.

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education and Youth, Darren O'Rourke TD, has called on the government to intervene and support families facing the cost of mandatory digital devices in so-called 'iPad schools', after new data reveals that almost 1 in 4 secondary schools require parents to purchase these devices.

The Department of Education confirmed to Deputy O'Rourke that from the 2024/25 school year, a new question was included in their School Data Collection Survey asking post-primary schools: “Are parents of children in your school asked to purchase or provide digital devices?. All schools responded, with 173 schools (36 DEIS and 137 non-DEIS) out of 722 answering ‘yes’ - meaning nearly a quarter of secondary schools are placing this financial burden on families.

Deputy O’Rourke spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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A 35-year-old businessman is the latest person to declare they are running to be the next Irish president. 

Gareth Sheridan just passes the minimum age limit to run for the office. At age 35, he’s looking to become the youngest ever Irish president.

Who is he? 

The multi-millionaire is the founder and former CEO of US-based company Nutriband, which describes itself as a “values-based company” that manufactures abuse deterrent transdermal patches aimed specifically at opioid and fentanyl abuse. 

Gareth Sheridan joined us on The Agenda this morning to speak to us about his decision to run for President, and about what he would like to see happening in Ireland if he was elected.

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The absence of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with An Garda Síochána and HIQA on the care of vulnerable people in care settings, underscores a deep systemic failure, according to Aontú Louth Rep, Michael O’ Dowd, who said he is a longtime advocate for the rights of people with additional needs. 

Mr Ó'Dowd said that “despite being first mooted nearly seven years ago, no agreement has ever been signed. What is obvious is that this has not been treated as a priority by either organisation. 

"This is a disgrace and is a terrible reflection on the way people who have an inalienable right to care, protection and respect continue to be treated." 

Councillor O’Dowd spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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Thousands of asylum-seekers could be required to pay up to €238 a week for their accommodation in international protection centres under proposals being considered by Government.

The move is being examined as part of a series of measures to cut the cost to the State in housing migrants in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres, which exceeded €1bn for the first time last year.

Aontu Leader & Meath-West TD Peadar Toibin spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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Ireland has joined other European countries to write a letter imploring Israel not to expand the war in Gaza, stating that it would be a “flagrant violation of international law”.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that Israel would seek "the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip", as well as "Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip" and "the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority".

Karol Balfe from ActionAid Ireland spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is “deeply concerned” about attacks on the Indian community in recent weeks.

Mr Harris is to meet with the Ireland-India Council on Monday after they requested an engagement about the number of assaults and threats against Indian citizens.

The issue has been highlighted after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month.

In the days leading up to August 15, Indian Independence Day, many Indians here will not be celebrating. Some have banded together to lead a silent protest on August 13 outside the Department of the Taoiseach to protest at the rise of racially motivated assaults, which many say are part of a long-term trend.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Indian man living in Ireland, Sharans Kabra, who has experienced various incidences of racism since he came to Ireland.

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The number of people buying fake weight loss drugs online has more than doubled in the last year.

Health Products Regulatory Authority figures show a 14 per cent increase in the overall seizure of illegal medicines over the last 12 months.

The Irish Pharmacy Union is expressing concern over the numbers, which reveal 568 medicines were ordered online in 2023 climbing to 1,582 in 2024.

Tom Murray, IPU President says people are using online medicines outside the advice of their doctor, and Tom joins us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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Concern is being expressed over the reduction of full-time security cover in the Emergency Department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Local Sinn Féin Councillor Debbie McCole is calling for an immediate reversal of the decision to limit it to 12 hour shifts from 12 noon to midnight.

She says it's imperative that the hospital has 24-hour security staff cover there.

Councillor McCole spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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