Elsewhere, and among the Irish Times top stories today, is news that the number of school-leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds progressing to college has climbed towards record levels. 

A new report finds that the midwest of Ireland has the lowest five-year survival rate for some of the most common cancers compared to the other health regions around the country, while applications to rent new State-subsidised homes in south Dublin for €1,175 a month for a studio to €1,775 for a three-bed apartment, will open today, and the State must pay €2.8 million into a liquidated company’s workers’ pension scheme following a landmark ruling by the WRC.

The Irish Times 'Secret Teacher' column says the current model of schooling makes working in an Amazon fulfilment centre look like a Zen retreat. More jobs growth is expected as three quarters of Irish employers planning to recruit in 2025, and  it's claimed that Irish companies are ‘falling behind’ on AI. 

Zen

The Australian Macquarie Dictionary has selected its word of the year for 2024, and it's a zinger.  It describes a process by which "the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking," and is more fully explained here by the good people at ABC.

Have a great day.

Niall