The Ombudsman Ger Deering has criticised the lack of progress made by the HSE to move younger people out of nursing homes, and called for additional government funding to tackle the issue.

According to the Ombudsman Annual Report for 2024 – which examined complaints and reports from the Ombudman last year – the HSE has insufficient funding to continue to assist hundreds of young people to move out of nursing homes and into more appropriate accommodation.

Ger Deering spoke to us on The Agenda this morning about this.

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A man deported by the Irish government on a chartered flight to Nigeria last week has said he has been separated from his family because of the move.

Rasheed Dimeji Ismail is challenging the deportation on the grounds that the State accepted that his wife Basirat and their three daughters faced threats of female genital mutilation if returned to Nigeria – yet he was still sent there.

We spoke to Rasheed this morning on The Agenda about this. 

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“Accountability and a plan of action” is needed to tackle problems with vacant houses and derelict properties, the monthly meeting of Drogheda Borough District heard.

Cllr. Pio Smith sought an update on the number of vacant houses in and around Drogheda, and what plans the council have to bring them back into use. He asked if it were possible for Louth County Council to apply to the Housing Finance Agency for funds to “speed up the process” of bringing vacant houses back into use.

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

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Local representatives in Navan and Athboy have criticised upcoming increases in bus fares, arguing that the changes will hinder progress toward climate goals.

The new fare structure, which takes effect this Monday, June 16, has been described as “unfair” given that some parts of Meath will see reductions in ticket prices while others, including Navan and Athboy, will face higher costs.

Under the revised system, fares on commuter services operated by Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland will vary – some increasing, others decreasing, and a few remaining unchanged.

Councillor Mike Bray, who represents the Athboy area spoke to on The Agenda this morning about this 

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Drogheda United have confirmed that they will not be allowed to compete in the UEFA Conference League due to ownership rules and are now taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

United, owned by the Trivela Group, qualified for the competition by winning last year's FAI Cup.

However, Danish side Silkeborg, also under the Trivela umbrella, secured a place in the Conference League through their league position.

Under UEFA rules, two sides from the same owner cannot enter the same European competition.

Soccer Journalist Barry Landy spoke to us this morning on The Agenda this morning about this.

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Announcing nine million euro in practical supports, the government has shared their plans to tackle the growing issue of phone use in schools.

Under the new national guidance, phones will be banned in primary schools and more restrictions on phone-use are to be put in place in secondary schools.

Minister for Education and Meath-East TD Helen McEntee joined us in-studio this morning to tell us more about this.

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With traffic congestion around Bridge Street and Newry Bridge in recent weeks, Dundalk councillor Ciarán Fisher has renewed calls for better public transport. 

While welcoming recent road improvements, he warned that without new bus routes, particularly in the north and southwest of the town, car dependency will continue to rise. 

Speaking at a Municipal meeting, he urged Transport Ireland to prioritise long-promised bus expansions to ease pressure on local roads.

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

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Uisce Éireann is appealing to businesses and residents in Dunboyne and Clonee to correctly dispose of fats, oils and grease (FOGs) and any business waste in a responsible manner.

Uisce Éireann has confirmed that pouring fats, oils or grease down the sink is causing blockages across the wastewater networks, especially in Dunboyne and Clonee, where the utility is currently undertaking surveys of the wastewater infrastructure in these towns.

This morning on The Agenda we got all the latest on this. 

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A Meath councillor has said experiencing menopause felt like a “dead woman walking” following her call to the council to recognise Menopause day.

Councillor Suzanne Jamal said it was time to “break the silence and support women facing this major life transition”, and she spoke to us this morning no The Agenda about this

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