The Agenda

A public realm plan for Athboy is expected to go on public consultation in the coming months, a local councillor has said.

Sinn Féin councillor Maria White has been elected chairperson of a newly established working group campaigning for a fully functioning Garda station in Laytown to serve the east coast of County Meath.

Experts are warning that cocaine use has become increasingly normalised across Ireland, spreading from big cities into small towns and villages.

We are joined on the programme now by Housing Lecturer at the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and housing policy analyst Lorcan Sirr, who wrote a piece in the Irish Times this week titled: “Ireland would do well to pay close attention to differing housing policies in Spain”.

A proposal for a new railway station in Louth was raised last week by Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly, highlighting what she said is the urgent need to address growing demand in the region.

Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, has slammed the government’s total failure to tackle dereliction as thousands of homes and buildings across the state are left to rot and over €26 million in Derelict Sites Levies goes uncollected. In Meath, there are 38 derelict sites and the most recent figures show that €881,895 is owed to Meath County Council.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a tragic homeless woman who was found dead in a tent in the heart of the capital.  Natasha Smith’s body was discovered on Pearse Street at around 12.30pm on Friday.The woman in her 40s was transported to St James’ Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It is understood that no foul play was suspected in the woman’s death.

The number of homeless pensioners has more than doubled in 3 years.Rising rents and house prices are making older people vulnerable to becoming homeless.Many are relying on the private housing market and may not own a home.Simon Communities Executive Director Ber Grogan is calling on the Government to take action to alleviate the crisis…