Ailbhe Conneely

Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent

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35% rise in trafficking victims engaging with Ruhama

There was a 35% rise in the number of victims of human trafficking that engaged with Ruhama last year.

Ireland • 08 Oct

Gender Recognition Certificate applications fell in 2024

The number of applications granted for Gender Recognition Certificates (GRC) fell slightly last year compared to 2023.

Ireland • 08 Oct

Closeup of wooden rosary beads on top of an open bible

Spiritan Order denies delaying progress on redress scheme

The Spiritan Order has denied deliberately delaying or obstructing progress on a redress scheme for victims and survivors of abuse.

Ireland • 08 Oct

Dept of Health budget to provide for 3,300 extra staff

A record level of total funding of €27.4bn will be allocated to the Department of Health for 2026.

Budget 2026 • 07 Oct

The Irish Foster Care Association says the cost of living is impacting the number of people offering foster care (Stock image)

Foster carers make their case for support in Budget 2026

There were queues outside the Oireachtas Audio Visual Room last week, as representative groups and organisations made their final pitches in back-to-back presentations ahead of Budget Day.

Budget 2026 • 05 Oct

A view of works carried out at the site in July this year (Image: RollingNews.ie)

Workhouse era skeletal remains found at Tuam site

Five sets of historical, skeletal human remains consistent with the workhouse era - dating from 1841 to 1918 - have been recovered at the former site of the Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam.

Connacht • 03 Oct

'No excuse' as to why Spiritan redress scheme not started

The Spiritan Order has been accused of further traumatising victims and survivors of child sex abuse, by failing to implement the Independent Restorative Justice Framework it announced three years ago.

Ireland • 03 Oct

Protesters sit outside Dáil Eireann while on hunger strike

Family of Dáil hunger striker expresses worry for mother

The family of a survivor of residential abuse who is protesting outside the Dáil has written to the Minister for Education to express "grave concern" about the physical and mental health of their mother.

Ireland • 03 Oct

SJAI abuse survivors express concerns over accountability

Survivors of child sexual abuse at St John Ambulance Ireland (SJAI) have expressed concern over what they have described as a lack of accountability at the organisation, despite the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer.

Ireland • 02 Oct

Ivan Walsh in his room at a nursing home

'Not where I should be,' say under-65s in nursing homes

Twelve hundred people under the age of 65 are currently living in nursing homes, largely due to a lack of accessible housing according to to the Irish Wheelchair Association.

Ireland • 02 Oct