Standing with Giants
by Mehak Dugal

The Cabinet has signed off on €136bn in funding for new homes, hospitals, schools and roads over the next decade. The decade long spending plan is €45bn more than the existing National Development Plan which was renegotiated as part of the Programme for Government.

 

Meanwhile, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has said an injection of up to €11.8 billion may be needed to fund primary, community and long-term health services over the next 14 years in its latest report. 

In the meantime, construction has begun on a new €30 million medical centre for Dublin’s homeless population, after being beset by delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new 100-bed facility, which is to be located at Usher’s Island, will be partially funded by the Department of Housing and will be operated by the Dublin Simon Community.

The number of guests at a wedding can increase from 50 to 100 from 5 August, the Cabinet has agreed. The new rules form part of the gradual reopening of the hospitality which will also see baptisms resume from the same date, but no news on the resumption of Communions or Confirmations yet.

 

Booster shots are to be offered to older people in early autumn amid reinfection concerns. Pharmacists may offer a coronavirus booster shot alongside the annual flu jab to older people as early as September under latest plans. 

 

The number of security officers on the Luas has been increased by 30% after a report “Travelling in a Woman’s Shoes” by the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TFI) found that women have serious concerns about safety when travelling on public transport. More on that here.

 

To round it off with some good news, Ireland has won its first medal of the Tokyo Olympics. It is the first time since 1992 that the women’s four has been up for grabs and the first-ever rowing medal for Irish women.

 

Zen 

 

Spice Girls bring us our zen this morning with their single 'Wannabe' which scored them their first No.1 on the UK charts this day in 1997. This Girl Power song sold over six million copies worldwide making it the best-selling single by a female group of all time.

 

Have a good day folks.

 

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