The University Observer notes youth unemployment continues to grow despite growing market revenue, and calls on policymakers to "wake up." The Irish Times has a strong focus on employment and further education this week, and Brian Mooney writes about employment opportunities in the current economic climate.

While another Irish Times item ponders a career in plumbing to overcome the disruption of AI, there won't be much plumbing between Dublin and the midwest as councillors in Co. Clare have formally objected to plans to extract water from the River Shannon to pipe Dublin’s leaking water network, which has implications for the city's capacity to build more housing. 

Meanwhile, a survey of 1,000 office workers reveals that more than a third feel they could not do their jobs without the help of AI. The survey was commissioned by Irish IT and cybersecurity services company Landmark Technologies.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust has said children are being groomed into criminality from the age of six in deprived areas where “there is an endless supply” of youths to serve the drugs trade, while the Children's Rights Alliance has said many “big-ticket promises” made before the last general election have yet to materialise.

Elsewhere, Revenue is to start a “noncompliance campaign” in relation to almost 170,000 property owners who have not filed a local property tax (LPT) return or put a payment in place.

Finally, the Irish Times Inside Politics podcast today features Eoin Drea, a senior researcher at the Wilfried Martens Centre (the official think tank and political foundation of the European People's Party (EPP), which includes FIne Gael), talking about how Ireland’s influence in Europe has declined, why he believes Ireland’s political discourse around Europe is "naive and lacking strategic depth" and what “two-speed” EU development could look like - with or without Ireland as a key player. He also talks about how Ireland is viewed as being “in the pocket of the US multinationals”.

Your Zen this morning is a recommendation to visit IMMA's current exhibition of work by Camille Souter and Alberta Whittle. Fisherwoman, Fisherwoman runs at IMMA's house galleries until September. 

Have a great day.

NS