The Agenda

Plans for a new camper van park at the Navvy Bank in Dundalk have sparked considerable debate, with concerns raised by local residents over the future use of the site.Louth County Council’s proposals include serviced campervan facilities, a playground, mini-golf, public toilets and additional parking. However, more than 100 submissions were received during the public consultation, with many objecting to the loss of community recreational and sporting space.The proposals came before councillors yesterday, with some local representatives voicing opposition to the development. Questions have also been raised about whether the plans reflect the needs and wishes of the wider Dundalk community.Green Party Councillor for Dundalk, Marianne Butler, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the vote, the reaction locally and what she believes should happen next.

Demand for services supporting women experiencing addiction and homelessness has risen by 55 per cent, according to Merchants Quay Ireland.The charity says 255 women accessed Jane's Place, its Dublin city drop-in service, last year. It also recorded more than 183,000 engagements nationally in 2025, an increase of almost 30 per cent on the previous year.The figures highlight the growing demand for support among vulnerable women and the increasing pressure on frontline services.Chief Executive Eddie Mullins says the scale of demand is stark and that more resources are needed to meet the growing need.Eddie Mullins joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the figures and what more needs to be done.

The NSPCA is calling on the Government to end public funding for greyhound racing, arguing that the money should instead be redirected towards animal welfare and rescue services.The organisation says taxpayer support for the industry is difficult to justify amid ongoing concerns about injuries and deaths among racing dogs.Research commissioned by the NSPCA found that 64 per cent of people surveyed opposed public funding for greyhound racing, while 67 per cent supported a gradual phase-out of the industry.The charity is now urging the Government to make animal welfare a priority as it develops its new Animal Welfare Strategy.The NSPCA's Director of Advocacy, Conor Dowling, joined us on The Agenda this morning to explain why the organisation believes change is needed.

The US midterm elections have delivered a major setback for President Donald Trump, with Democrats winning control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives following a series of surprise victories in traditionally Republican states.Democrats made significant gains in Texas, Kansas, Ohio and South Carolina, with voters expressing frustration over the cost of living, the war with Iran and the direction of the Trump administration.The results could have major implications for President Trump's remaining two years in office.Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and political columnist with The Journal, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the results and what they mean for American politics.

Residents of Scarlet Crescent in Drogheda are being promised action after more than two decades of concerns over the condition of their estate.The Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Declan Power, has called for urgent intervention, describing Scarlet Crescent as one of the town's most overlooked housing estates.Concerns include a lack of parking, poor footpaths, accessibility difficulties for older residents and, most seriously, reports that emergency services are struggling to reach some homes.Some residents have even reported ambulances having to transport patients considerable distances by stretcher because vehicles cannot access parts of the estate.Mayor Power says previous commitments from Louth County Council have failed to deliver meaningful change, and he's now calling for a full audit and a properly funded improvement plan.Mayor Power joined us on The Agenda this morning to explain what's happening and what needs to be done.

There has been shock and anger in Dunboyne following an act of vandalism at the town’s community playground over the Halloween weekend.Equipment designed specifically for younger children and children with additional needs was set on fire, leaving a specially designed play tunnel destroyed.The Dunboyne Playspace Forum says the damage is a devastating loss for the entire community, particularly for the children who use the inclusive facility, which opened in 2023.The playground was developed through a community-led initiative and provides an important recreational space for local families.Local Fine Gael Councillor Maria Murphy has described the incident as “soul destroying” and joins us on the line now to discuss the damage and the impact on the local community, and she joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Drogheda Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne has welcomed significant improvements at Drogheda Ambulance Station following a programme of remedial works.The upgrades include a new roof, bathroom, flooring, water system and drug storage room, as well as improved CCTV and kitchen facilities.Deputy Byrne says the improvements are a major step forward from the conditions she witnessed during her first visit to the station in 2025, when she raised concerns about the working environment for paramedics.However, she says the need for a new purpose-built ambulance station remains a priority. Work is also progressing on a dedicated reflective room to give paramedics a quiet space following traumatic incidents.Deputy Byrne joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the improvements and what more is needed for Drogheda’s ambulance service.We also heard about President Catherine Connolly's visit to Drogheda on Monday.

Researchers are calling for a ban on low-cost scratchcards in Ireland, warning that their easy availability could be putting both children and adults at risk of developing gambling problems.A new study involving researchers from four Irish universities is proposing a series of measures to tackle gambling harm, including restricting advertising, introducing health warnings on scratchcards and betting slips, and raising the minimum gambling age to 21.The researchers say there are serious concerns about how easily children can access lottery products, with previous test purchasing research finding that almost 30% of retailers were willing to sell lottery products to underage customers.Lead author of the research, Dr Frank Houghton from the Technological University of the Shannon, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the proposals and the growing concerns around gambling addiction in Ireland.

Commuters using the 103 bus route between Ratoath, Ashbourne and Dublin are facing growing disruption, with new figures revealing a significant deterioration in the service during 2026.Figures supplied by Bus Éireann show that the percentage of scheduled kilometres lost on the route has jumped from 1.4% last year to 11.5% this year, more than eight times higher.Sinn Féin TD for Meath East Darren O’Rourke says the figures highlight serious problems with reliability and overcrowding, with passengers facing longer waits, missed connections and buses operating at capacity.He is now calling for urgent improvements, including a review of services to ensure they keep pace with the growing populations of Ratoath and Ashbourne.Deputy O’Rourke joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the problems facing commuters and what needs to change.