The Agenda

Recovery, resilience and the power of community are at the heart of this week’s conversation with the Red Door Project in Drogheda.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Orla Walsh, Kevin Lynch and Janette Bell from The Red Door Project to hear about the important work being done at the Red Door to support people on their recovery journeys, and why connection, creativity and having a safe space can make such a difference.We also looked ahead to After Pinocchio, a special production taking to the stage at Droichead Arts Centre, and hear how theatre can provide an opportunity for expression, confidence and connection.As Recovery Month gets underway, this is a conversation about second chances, finding your voice, and the people and places that can help us move forward.

HSE Dublin and North East is encouraging people in Louth and Meath who have recently been discharged from an adult inpatient mental health unit or hospital to take part in Ireland’s first National Mental Health Experience Survey. The nationwide survey is open to eligible people who were discharged from participating adult acute approved centres including Drogheda Department of Psychiatry, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital between April and July 2026. Invitations have been issued by post, with participants able to complete the survey online using the QR code provided or return it by Freepost.The survey is a joint initiative of the Department of Health, the Mental Health Commission and the HSE, facilitated through the National Care Experience Programme.John Farrelly, CEO of the Mental Health Commission, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Labour Finance spokesperson and Louth TD Ged Nash TD has accused the Government of showing reckless disregard for both industrial relations and the public finances by failing to engage seriously with trade unions ahead of talks on a new public sector pay agreement.Deputy Nash says “The failure by the Government to engage seriously with the trade unions who represent their own employees on a potential new public sector pay agreement is entirely on-brand for this administration.”Deputy Nash joined us in-studio on The Agenda this morning to discuss this further…

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland is set to ballot its members on industrial action, up to and including strike action, in response to what it calls, the Government’s failure to table a meaningful offer on pay. The ballot is part of a co-ordinated campaign by public sector unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). It follows the failure of exploratory talks between the Government and the ICTU to establish a basis for formal negotiations on a successor public service pay agreement.

Ana Liffey, which has recently expanded its services into Louth, launched its 2025 Annual Report yesterday, and one of the key findings was a significant shift in the reasons people are turning to the charity for help.For the first time, housing and homelessness have overtaken substance use and treatment as the most common support need, accounting for 27.8% of cases compared with 23% for substance use.

An Garda Síochána will implement the Health Referral Scheme (HRS) at midnight on 1st September 2026. This is a pilot programme developed by the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in partnership with the HSE, and An Garda Síochána.The Health Referral Scheme provides An Garda Síochána with an alternative response to persons over the age of 18 found in possession of a small quantity of controlled drugs for personal use. Instead of prosecuting an individual for simple possession, Gardaí can opt to refer the person to the HSE’s Health Referral Scheme. This referral is an alternative to a prosecution or adult caution

The Department of Enterprise has confirmed it's received a notification of redundancies at PayPal. 164 roles are believed to be at risk at the company's Dublin office from October.It's already cut more than 350 jobs here since 2023. The news has been described as ‘deeply worrying’ by Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú.

A Local councillor is calling for progress on developing shared municipal sports facilities in Dundalk.He says many local clubs are struggling to cope with growing membership levels and a lack of room to expand.Independent local councillor for Dundalk-Carlingford Ciarán Fisher says Dundalk’s athletics track and GAA Stadium demonstrated “what could be achieved” through investment in public sporting infrastructure, but argued that many clubs now face significant challenges due to a lack of space.