Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has announced further details on the cost of education measures first outlined in the Budget. A reduction of €1,000 in undergraduate fees has now been applied to all students’ accounts reducing the cost of college for 96,000 students by 33%. Students, or their families, who have paid
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OPEC+ postpones policy meeting to November 30, oil falls
OPEC+ has delayed a ministerial meeting expected to discuss oil output cuts to November 30 from November 26 as producers struggled to agree on production levels and hence possible reductions, OPEC+ sources said, a surprise delay that sent oil prices sliding. Three OPEC+ sources said this was linked to African countries. OPEC+ said after its
Read More...€110 billion collected in taxes in 2022, up 17% on 2021 – CSO
The Exchequer collected €110 billion in 2022 in taxes and PRSI, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office published today. This is an increase of €16.3 billion or 17% on the total tax revenue figure in 2021. Included in this figure was what the CSO described as an “unprecedented” 48% increase in corporation tax
Read More...Government agrees increases in all classes of PRSI
The Government has signed off on a plan to increase PRSI over five years to replenish the Social Insurance Fund. Under the plan there will be incremental increases in all classes of PRSI. This decision will see hikes in PRSI rates for employers, employees and the self-employed. These increases will support the retention of the
Read More...Consumer caution warning as Black Friday approaches
It’s that time of year again when Black Friday advertising is inescapable. Offers galore are touted on social media feeds, in broadcasting and newspapers in the run up to 24 November. Buy, buy, buy, is the message, and do it quick in case the bargains do not last. Since Black Friday and Cyber Monday became
Read More...Euro zone to tighten fiscal policy in 2024 – Commission
Euro zone fiscal policy will be tighter on aggregate next year but several countries, including France and Italy, plan to spend too much, breaking EU recommendations, the European Commission said today after analysing draft euro zone 2024 budgets. “The aggregate fiscal stance for the euro area is projected to be contractionary in 2024 on the
Read More...Business confidence in “experience economy” weakens
A quarter of businesses in the “experience economy” are less confident than they were six months ago, new research has found. A similar proportion of firms indicated they expect conditions to be poor over the next six months. The experience economy includes hospitality, retail, travel, food, drink, tourism, entertainment, the arts and events. The survey
Read More...EU Parliament to vote on new ‘right to repair’ consumer rules
New rules to make it easier for consumers to request repairs for goods will be voted on by the European Parliament. The legislation seeks to introduce a “right to repair”, in order to reduce unnecessary waste. It will require producers and sellers of goods to prioritise the repair of an item, during its guarantee period,
Read More...EU October car sales up 14.6%, EV sales jump more than 36%
New car sales in the European Union rose 14.6% in October, boosted in part by a big jump in sales of fully electric cars, while hybrid electric vehicles accounted for nearly three of every 10 vehicles sold in the economic bloc. Sales of fully electric cars rose 36.3% from a year earlier and full hybrid
Read More...Consumers planning a more positive but prudent Christmas
Planning to cut back on Christmas spending is now a seasonal norm, according to analysis of the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey for November. It contained a special question on consumers spending plans for Christmas, and compared it with spending intentions in the previous three years. Over half of consumers expect to have less to
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