The number of people infected with Covid-19 is expected to continue to rise over the coming days with the question of further restrictions in Dublin and other counties to be considered at the end of this week and early next week, according to The Times.

The Examiner reports that The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) has defended the decision to ballot its members for industrial action, with union members saying if a safe environment can't be provided, teachers and students should not be in school. An additional 43 cases of Covid-19 have been detected in schools, according to the HSE. The figures come after mass testing of 2,400 students and teachers at 99 schools found these additional cases “over and above” original cases.

Ryanair has again warned its pilots and aircrew in an internal memo that any failure by the Government to adopt the EU's 'traffic light system' from October for air travel during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic would result in its Cork and Shannon bases closing for the winter season.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) has called on the Government to increase maternity, paternity and parent’s benefit to €295 per week. The organisation has also called for the investment in early years education to increase to 1 per cent of gross domestic product  over over the next decade.

The Times reports that Local Property Tax (LPT) bills for Dublin city homeowners will not rise next year, despite pleas from city council management for an increase to help offset the “devastating” financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff at Estee Lauder in Dublin Airport are striking as part of a protest against compulsory redundancies. Estee Lauder is implementing compulsory redundancies on statutory terms of two weeks of pay per year of service plus an additional week. 40 workers at the brand are participating in two days of industrial action at the airport roundabout.

Children who spend significant amounts of time on screens are more likely to suffer declines in emotional wellbeing, and the level of harm has increased in more recent times, according to a new Irish study. Read more on that here. 

Christy Moore brings us our zen this morning with Cliffs of Dooneen. I attended a virtual gig of his over the weekend where he sang this beauty, streamed live from the National Concert Hall. Although not quite the same it was a lovely way to spend the evening and  an easy way to support the Arts.

Have a good day folks.