The Agenda

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current delay in driving tests and letting learner drivers continually roll-over their permit year after year without sitting a test is without a doubt affecting road safety, according to Susan Gray of the PARC road safety group. Ms Gray, whose husband Steve was killed by an unaccompanied learner driver in Donegal in 2004, was one of five families who met with Junior Transport Minister Sean Ca...

The Minister for Education and Youth and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion have published a document outlining their plans this year for education. Education Minister & Meath-East TD Helen McEntee said 'Education Plan 2025' outlined a significant body of work "to deliver for everyone in our school and youth services’ communities". Minister McEntee spoke to us this morning o...

Anyone waiting more than three months for a driving test should have €100 put on their Leap card as an incentive to use whatever public transport is available in their area, the Dáil was told. Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly said that given the backlog in driving tests for young people he called on the Minister for Transport to consider, as part of the next budget, putting €100 on learners’ tra...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Aontu representative for the Laytown and Bettystown area, Peter Whelan, who spoke to us about the issue of fly tipping in Louth and Meath. Yesterday Peter received a call from a resident who saw timber dumped in a ditch on the Dowth road adjacent to the recently purchased Dowth hall by the state.  Peter says this is not the first incident he has been cal...

A member of rap group Kneecap faces criminal charges for supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation and not his support for the people of Palestine, a court heard. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the 27-year-old is “well within his rights”...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke Fianna Fail Councillor in Ardee, John Sheridan, about the biggest issues facing local residents of the town, including dereliction, traffic congestion and water problems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louth County Council has ruled out clearing algae along the shoreline in the Blackrock area as its a protected area under EU regulations. At the local authority's monthly meeting yesterday, both Fianna Fáil Cllr Shane McGuinness and Fine Gael Cllr Robert Nash called for the bathing water to be independently tested given how popular the beach is and from an ecological perspective. Councillor McGuin...

Whether a flat white or a skinny caramel macchiato are your beverage of choice, late night cafe culture could soon be the norm in County Louth, after a new approach to the night-time economy in Drogheda proved a hit. Speaking at the June meeting of Louth County Council, Cllr. Emma Coffey said the Late Night cafe pilot programme “seems to have been well received in Drogheda.” Councillor Coffey spok...

This morning on The Agenda we broadcast live from Merci Beaucoup in Ardee. During the broadcast we spoke to Eoin Lennon who owns Ardee Coach Trim and Defy Sports in Ardee. Eoin is also involved with the Ardee traders, and he spoke to us about all of this and about how business is going in Ardee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

**TRIGGER WARNING: SOME LISTENERS MAY FIND CONTENT DISTRESSING** This morning on The Agenda we spoke to a Louth man about the horrific abuse he suffered at the hands of a person who took their own life before justice could be served. "John" (whose name we changed) told us about how nobody would listen when he tried to seek help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This morning on The Agenda we broadcast live from Merci Beaucoup bakery in Ardee. During the broadcast we spoke to husband and wife Jeremy and Olana   Humeau, who own the bakery. They spoke to us about why they came to Ardee to open to open their bakery, the obstacles they faced in doing so and how business is going in Ardee now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Education and Youth, Darren O’Rourke TD, has demanded urgent government intervention to reduce the high cost of school uniforms for families. The Meath East TD’s call follows a warning from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) that current school uniform policies may be stifling competition and driving up expenses for parents. Deputy O'Rourke spoke...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Fine Gael Councillor in Ashbourne, Alan Tobin, about works being carried out in the town which are causing some problems locally, particularly causing traffic congestion, making it a struggle to get through Ashbourne at certain times. Councillor Tobin also says that since December (when works on the cycle network in Ashbourne were completed) all manhole cover...

The Ombudsman Ger Deering has criticised the lack of progress made by the HSE to move younger people out of nursing homes, and called for additional government funding to tackle the issue. According to the Ombudsman Annual Report for 2024 – which examined complaints and reports from the Ombudman last year – the HSE has insufficient funding to continue to assist hundreds of young people to move out...

A man deported by the Irish government on a chartered flight to Nigeria last week has said he has been separated from his family because of the move. Rasheed Dimeji Ismail is challenging the deportation on the grounds that the State accepted that his wife Basirat and their three daughters faced threats of female genital mutilation if returned to Nigeria – yet he was still sent there. We spoke to R...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Accountability and a plan of action” is needed to tackle problems with vacant houses and derelict properties, the monthly meeting of Drogheda Borough District heard. Cllr. Pio Smith sought an update on the number of vacant houses in and around Drogheda, and what plans the council have to bring them back into use. He asked if it were possible for Louth County Council to apply to the Housing Financ...

Local representatives in Navan and Athboy have criticised upcoming increases in bus fares, arguing that the changes will hinder progress toward climate goals. The new fare structure, which takes effect this Monday, June 16, has been described as “unfair” given that some parts of Meath will see reductions in ticket prices while others, including Navan and Athboy, will face higher costs. Under the r...

Drogheda United have confirmed that they will not be allowed to compete in the UEFA Conference League due to ownership rules and are now taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. United, owned by the Trivela Group, qualified for the competition by winning last year's FAI Cup. However, Danish side Silkeborg, also under the Trivela umbrella, secured a place in the Conference League thro...

Announcing nine million euro in practical supports, the government has shared their plans to tackle the growing issue of phone use in schools. Under the new national guidance, phones will be banned in primary schools and more restrictions on phone-use are to be put in place in secondary schools. Minister for Education and Meath-East TD Helen McEntee joined us in-studio this morning to tell us more...

With traffic congestion around Bridge Street and Newry Bridge in recent weeks, Dundalk councillor Ciarán Fisher has renewed calls for better public transport.  While welcoming recent road improvements, he warned that without new bus routes, particularly in the north and southwest of the town, car dependency will continue to rise.  Speaking at a Municipal meeting, he urged Transport Irela...

Uisce Éireann is appealing to businesses and residents in Dunboyne and Clonee to correctly dispose of fats, oils and grease (FOGs) and any business waste in a responsible manner.   Uisce Éireann has confirmed that pouring fats, oils or grease down the sink is causing blockages across the wastewater networks, especially in Dunboyne and Clonee, where the utility is currently undertaking surveys...

A Meath councillor has said experiencing menopause felt like a “dead woman walking” following her call to the council to recognise Menopause day. Councillor Suzanne Jamal said it was time to “break the silence and support women facing this major life transition”, and she spoke to us this morning no The Agenda about this Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There needs to be a crackdown on antisocial activity carried out by young offenders, according to one independent TD who suggested curfews, fining parents and seizing PlayStations. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil yesterday, Dublin Mid-West TD Paul Gogarty said there are not enough consequences implemented in the youth diversion programme to counteract the “Andrew Tate-ification of y...