Government plans to cap legal fees in planning and environmental cases were opposed by 98 percent of more than 1,400 respondents to a public consultation.
A review of responses said changes could weaken “fundamental legal safeguards” for taking cases:
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/21/p...
Government officials raised concerns that a surge in housing commencements might not translate into completed homes.
Internal papers said builders had rushed to take advantage of development charge waivers but that some projects were not progressing.
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/17/g...
Heritage sites across Ireland are already being damaged by extreme weather linked to climate change, with castles, forts and national parks among those most at risk.
Nationwide project to identify historic landmarks most under threat could cost up to €2.3m.
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/14/h...
Coming next month. A project I’ve been working on in the background over the past year.
Based on more than two decades of experience accessing information, it’s aimed at students, teachers, journalists and anyone planning to file requests with public bodies.
More details soon.
Coming next month. A project I’ve been working on in the background over the past year.
Based on more than two decades of experience accessing information, it’s aimed at students, teachers, journalists and anyone planning to file requests with public bodies.
More details soon.
Reporters don't write headlines.
Revenue Commissioners wrote off more than €270 million in unpaid taxes last year, a sharp climb of more than 70% on 2024 figures.
The surge in write-offs was driven mainly by businesses going bust and fallout from tax ‘warehousing’ during COVID-19.
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/10/m...
It's a story written specifically for the business pages of the newspapers about the work Fáilte Ireland is doing to promote Ireland.
Stop trying to create a problem where there is none.
Number of EU citizens stripped of Irish residency triples in a year with cases involving human trafficking, tax evasion, and assault.
Data released by Dept of Justice following an appeal under FOI laws:
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/08/n...
The HSE has spent almost €33 million over the past three years sending a small number of Irish people abroad for psychiatric care.
The annual cost per patient has been in the region of €1.26 million, according to data released under FOI.
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/03/h...
The HSE has spent almost €33 million over the past three years sending a small number of Irish people abroad for psychiatric care.
The annual cost per patient has been in the region of €1.26 million, according to data released under FOI.
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/03/h...
More than €110,000 in taxpayer funds went down the drain after a courthouse water leak went undetected for two years.
Internal audit said Courts Service had faced excess water charges of nearly €2,900 per month, although OPW has since carried out repairs.
www.thestory.ie/2026/04/01/u...
More than 100 complaints made to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) remain unresolved more than five years after they were lodged.
The DPC said there were 111 cases dating from May 2018 to 2020 that have still not been finalised.
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/27/d...
Gardaí were paid more than €189 million in overtime last year with some members cashing in to the tune of more than €50,000 each.
One inspector was able to earn an extra €65,008 on top of their ordinary salary, according to FOI records.
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/25/b...
More than €17 million worth of welfare overpayments to people no longer resident in the State were uncovered over the past two years.
During the same period, around €8.2 million in such payments was recouped.
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/20/d...
Officials warned mortgage interest relief scheme had no policy rationale, favoured higher income people, could push up house prices, and should be ended.
Instead, then-Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe extended it for a further two years:
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/18/o...
Cannabis grow houses were illegally hooked up to electricity supplies 24 times over past two years at a cost of at least half a million euro.
Criminals tapped into ESB Networks to cultivate drugs 18 times in 2024, burning through around 1.8 million kWh.
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/13/c...
More than €1.2 million in old Irish punts were exchanged over the past two years.
During 2024 and 2025, one person swapped over £36,866 in pounds, which was worth the equivalent of €46,810.
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/10/o...
Review of the €800k Deer Park entrance project detailed how costs quadrupled from original €200k estimate, because of hopelessly optimistic design projections and bespoke items like Portuguese granite.
Latest set of FOI records from Right to Know at:
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/06/p...
Minister Jack Chambers suggested legal firms be banned from taking environmental cases on a ‘no foal, no fee’ basis.
Mr Chambers said “radical options” needed to be considered to cut down legal challenges even as number of judicial reviews was falling:
www.thestory.ie/2026/03/04/m...
Judicial reviews in international protection cases have tripled in three years, new data released under FOI shows.
Legal costs have also risen sharply amid faster decision-making and an increasing number of deportations:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/24/a...
Nearly 63,000 people were refused visas for travel to Ireland over past two years with citizens of some countries facing rejection rates above 90%.
More than 321,000 visa applications were granted in 2024 and 2025, according to figures released after an FOI appeal:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/20/c...
Irish jails were so overcrowded that management warned they mightn't be able to take anyone else or produce people at court.
Irish Prison Service said country’s main remand prison was at 125% capacity with room for three more people - on mattresses:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/17/t...
Confidential government paper says Ireland may require significantly higher migration levels in coming decades to sustain its workforce and public services.
Warns of importance of maintaining "social licence" as population ages and needs support:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/13/c...
More than €14.5m paid out to former TDs, Senators and their staff since the last set of elections.
Severance, redundancy and pension lump sums all detailed - but no names, as these are now withheld under FOI on privacy grounds:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/10/o...
Minister rejects plans for splitting Road Safety Authority, suggests hiring “well-known media or sporting personalities” for advocacy campaigns instead.
Our latest set of records available at:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/06/m...
My latest short story A Day at the Zoo is published today by The Honest Ulsterman.
A child, a VIP pass, and a very unusual zoo.
humag.co/prose/a-day-...
Confidential documents show how government officials warned of an “imminent humanitarian crisis” in asylum accommodation.
Internal records said costs could rise towards €1.5 billion a year under EU Migration Pact:
www.thestory.ie/2026/02/04/f...
More than €110,000 was paid out to members of the public who inadvertently unearthed or stumbled across items of archaeological significance.
Finds included old coins, bog butter, crucifixes, and swords:
www.thestory.ie/2026/01/29/c...
New edition of Right to Know's newsletter goes out on Friday.
This month:
– a €14m Dublin Airport funding dispute.
– a tax loophole quietly closed by Revenue.
– and why The Traitors couldn’t film at the Hill of Tara.
Sign up: www.thestory.ie/stay-in-touch/