Secondary schools are paying a private social media monitoring company to get harmful content removed from social media, with demand for the service nearly doubling in recent months.

The National Association of Principals and Deputies (NAPD), which represents around 1400 school leaders, confirmed it is paying a “substantial” amount for tech experts to help with the problem. 

Dublin-based social media monitoring firm RiskEye has been employed to track cyber bullying and harmful incidents online and liaise with the platforms to get content removed.

In the 28 weeks since the start of this academic year, 400 calls have come through the NAPD’s confidential supp­ort line from principals and deputies looking for help. One in three of these calls are related to harm on social media.

Director at the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Paul Crone, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Two coach operators say rising fuel prices will have knock-on effects on schools who may no longer be able to afford buses for football matches or tours if the industry is forced to pass on costs.

John Halpenny from Halpenny Coaches in Dundalk joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us about how they’re affected by this. 

We were also joined by Gareth O’Toole, who is the Chief Executive at Nolan Coaches, who is experiencing the same problem as John and many other coach operators in Ireland.

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Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) has warned that there are "systemic and widespread" breaches of employment rights being experienced by migrant workers across Ireland.

MRCI has published a report, Tied to Exploitation: The Experience of Migrant Workers in Ireland, which includes a survey of over 1,000 employment permit holders.

According to MRCI, the findings paint a deeply troubling picture where workers are routinely underpaid, overworked, harassed and denied basic rights.

MRCI Director Neil Bruton joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this report and its findings.

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Louth Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has welcomed the launch of a new youth vaping and nicotine prevention campaign led by the HSE, stating that “education is the first line of attack in the war against vaping.”

The campaign comes at a time when vaping among young people under the age of 18 has risen in recent years, with approximately one in five now reporting that they vape.

The social media campaign, launched by HSE Tobacco Free Ireland alongside Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, aims to highlight the risks associated with youth vaping and nicotine use.

Deputy McGreehan joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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A new survey about the Government's hot school meals programme has found that three-quarters of respondents reported their children do not enjoy the variety of food.

The survey, commissioned by Fine Gael, also found that parents were very critical of how the food is presented as well as the nutritional content.

There were also concerns about the origin of ingredients used for the meals, including meat.

The survey ran from 6 January to 18 February and received almost 8,000 responses.

Fine Gael senator Linda Nelson Murray says that the survey was extensive and showed that as well as having more choice, children also wanted more time to eat their school meals.

Senator Nelson Murray joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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There is "no plan" for residents around Dublin Airport if the existing passenger cap is lifted, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

The Oireachtas transport committee met to discuss new laws brought to Cabinet last month, which would end the existing restrictions at the capital's airport.

The legislation will give the transport minister powers to either revoke or amend the existing 32m passenger cap. It also precludes the introduction of a future cap on passengers for Dublin Airport.

Dublin Airport operator Daa has repeatedly called for the cap to be lifted, stating there is a need to increase the number to 40m per year.

The Children’s Rights Over Flights group said that the Government's bill was bad for the environment and the health of local people, and called for it to be withdrawn.

Celestine O’Reilly from Children’s Rights Over Flights joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this and about how the hearing went yesterday.

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Thousands of men were abused by paedophile Dr Michael Shine but are too afraid to “come forward”.

The shocking claim was made in the Dail by Drogehda-based TD Ged Nash — the town where the pervert medic carried out a terrifying reign of sexual abuse for 40 years.

So far 400 victims have gone public, but there’s hope more will come forward as a new scoping inquiry into the horrific scandal, led by Lorcan Staines SC, gets underway.

Deputy Nash hopes that the scoping inquiry will deliver accountability for those who looked the other way when they knew what was going on — and that a full State investigation into the scandal could take place.

Deputy Nash joined us in-studio on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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The Government will finalise “an appropriate intervention” to rising fuel and energy prices next week, the Tanaiste has said.

Simon Harris said measures would be signed off at the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The Tainaiste said that "fairness" must be at the centre of the response. The Tánaiste said the Government understands the pressures that families and businesses are under.

Fuels for Ireland says fuel-pricing cannot be managed through periodic interventions in response to each new crisis.

CEO Kevin McPartlan says they welcome the government's planned response to rising fuel prices - but the greater challenge is how to provide for long-term decision-making.

Kevin joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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There are currently no plans for a swimming pool in the Ratoath Municipal District, councillors have been told.

At the March meeting of the MD, Sinn Féin councillor Fionnan Blake called on Meath County Council to fund and deliver a public swimming pool for the area, saying the lack of leisure facilities has been raised with him on several occasions.

In a response, the local authority said the swimming pool project is not included in its Capital Investment Plan and therefore will not be assessed within the next 12 months.

Councillor Blake said there are a limited number of pools available across County Meath, noting that there are eight in total when hotel and gym facilities are included, but only three local authority pools — located in Kells, Navan and Trim.

Councillor Blake joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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A new initiative aimed at attracting more businesses to Drogheda town centre has been launched by Drogheda & District Chamber, in partnership with Louth County Council, the Local Enterprise Office Louth and Love Drogheda BID.

The initiative is designed to make opening a business in Drogheda more achievable by connecting entrepreneurs with practical guidance, local expertise and financial supports available to new businesses.

A key incentive is Louth County Council’s Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme for 2026, which offers substantial savings for businesses locating in eligible vacant town centre premises.

The scheme applies to commercial premises that have been vacant for more than 12 months and aims to encourage a wider range of businesses to locate in the town centre.

We were joined in-studio this morning on The Agenda by President of Drogheda's Chamber of Commerce, Miriam Simon, to find out more about this.

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