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Work is still going on in the buildings and the beds will be opened on a phased basis over the next week

First of 165 emergency beds for homeless to open

The first of 165 extra emergency beds for rough sleepers in Dublin will be opened this evening as part of a €4m initiative by the city council.

News • 09 Dec 16

There were 1,023 families in Dublin living in emergency accommodation in November

Marginal reduction in Dublin homeless figures

There has been a slight reduction in the number of homeless families in Dublin, although the total figure is still above 1,000.

homeless • 08 Dec 16

David McEvoy was among a number of extraordinary volunteers who were recognised in Dublin tonight

Co Offaly man named Volunteer of the Year

A Co Offaly man who has trained almost 1,500 people in CPR has been named Volunteer of the Year.

Volunteer of Year • 07 Dec 16

This has been the first weekend-long sitting for the 99 ordinary members of the Citizens' Assembly

Citizens' Assembly chair warns of task ahead

Citizens' Assembly Chairperson Ms Justice Mary Laffoy has warned members that the task of making recommendations to legislators on the current legal restrictions on abortion is enormous and could overwhelm the body.

News • 27 Nov 16

The Assembly was held at the Grand Hotel in Malahide

Assembly told poorer women cannot afford abortion

The Citizens' Assembly has been told by Dr Brendan O'Shea, a member of the regulatory body for general practitioners, that poorer women here frequently accept their crisis pregnancies because they cannot afford a legal termination abroad.

News • 27 Nov 16

The suicide rate among male Travellers is seven times the national average

Pavee Point launches paper on Traveller health

Singer-songwriters Christy Moore and Bressie have endorsed a new initiative encouraging Traveller men to make more use of health services.

News • 23 Nov 16

Enda Kenny speaks to Pope Francis at the canonisation of Popes John XIII and John Paul II in 2014

Taoiseach to meet Pope in Vatican next week

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to meet Pope Francis next week, it has been announced.

News • 23 Nov 16

All the major Christian denominations now share a single teacher training site run by DCU at Patrick's campus in Drumcondra

Christian student teachers share training at DCU

First year Catholic and Protestant trainee primary teachers are being educated together in Ireland for the first time in over 150 years.

News • 22 Nov 16

Ballydowd is a secure special care facility catering for 11-17 year olds.

Child care unit relied on gardaí for night safety

A HIQA inspection of a special care facility for children at Ballydowd in Co Dublin has found that night time staffing levels have led to a reliance on An Garda Síochána to maintain the safety of staff and children.

News • 22 Nov 16

Pope Francis has made a more inclusive and forgiving church a characteristic of his papacy

Pope extends power to forgive abortion to priests

Pope Francis has allowed all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a power previously reserved for bishops or special confessors.

News • 21 Nov 16

Pope Francis places the red three-cornered biretta hat on the head of new Irish cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell

Irishman among 17 new cardinals appointed by Pope

Pope Francis said an "epidemic of animosity" against people of other races or religions was hurting the weakest in society, striking a note of caution against the rise of populist nationalism.

News • 19 Nov 16

St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Dublin

St Patrick's issues apology to victims of abuser

The national Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, St Patrick's in Dublin, has apologised unreservedly for failing to care appropriately for victims of the serial child sexual abuser Patrick O'Brien.

News • 18 Nov 16

Geoffrey Shannon was speaking at launch of his annual report

Child protection watchdog calls for housing action

The Special Rapporteur for Child Protection has called on the state to tackle the housing crisis and has said that an "unacceptable" number of children are being housed in emergency accommodation.

News • 18 Nov 16

The CRC provides services and supports to over 3,500 children and adults every year

CRC plan aims to create stronger organisation

The Central Remedial Clinic has launched a new five-year strategic plan aimed at creating a stronger organisation with higher standards.

News • 18 Nov 16

The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies' national conference on safeguarding vulnerable people is taking place in Portlaoise

Govt urged to prioritise adult safeguarding laws

The Government has been urged to prioritise the introduction of adult safeguarding legislation to protect the country's most vulnerable adults from abuse or exploitation.

News • 17 Nov 16

IHREC has also criticised the current bill for not doing enough to protect the rights of students to be exempted from religious instruction

School bill criticised for religious preference

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has criticised proposed legislation on school admissions for failing to prevent schools from giving preferential access to children based on their religion.

Ireland • 16 Nov 16

Fr Brendan Hoban was speaking at a meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests in Athlone

Priests 'pitied, patronised, reviled, ignored'

A leading member of the Association of Catholic Priests has said it would be dangerous for diocesan clergy here to ignore the depth of depression and despair in their ranks.

News • 16 Nov 16

The SVP says 576 requests for assistance were made to its Eastern Region office on Monday alone

SVP expects more than 50,000 calls for help

The Society of St Vincent de Paul expects to receive more than 50,000 calls for help between now and Christmas.

News • 16 Nov 16

Campaigners also want asylum seekers to have the right to work and to have equal access to welfare payments and third-level education

Hundreds protest against 'direct provision' system

Hundreds of people have attended a protest in Dublin, calling for an end to the system of direct provision.

News • 12 Nov 16

Leaflets criticising Muslims and the "insanity of mass immigration" were left on car windscreens in Lisburn yesterday (Pic: Google Maps)

Distribution of anti-Muslim leaflets criticised

Far right organisation, Ulster Awake, has been criticised for distributing anti-Muslim and anti-immigration leaflets in Co Antrim yesterday.

News • 20 Mar 17

Official homelessness figures for September were released tonight by the Dept of Housing

More than 1,000 homeless families in Dublin

The number of homeless families in Dublin has surpassed 1,000 for first time, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing.

News • 02 Nov 16

Emily Logan said there was no legal impediment to the recognition of Traveller ethnicity

Non-recognition of Traveller ethnicity criticised

Ireland's Human Rights and Equality Commissioner has questioned the lack of recognition by the State towards Traveller ethnicity.

News • 26 Oct 16

Cardinal George Pell is Australia's most senior Catholic cleric

Vatican finance chief quizzed over abuse claims

Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell has been interviewed by Australian police in Rome over sexual assault claims, but no charges have been laid.

News • 26 Oct 16

Pope Francis approved the document outlining new rules on cremation

Vatican says ashes should not be scattered

The Roman Catholic Church prefers burial over cremation and wants ashes of the dead to be kept in "sacred places", not at home, divided among family members or scattered to the wind, the Vatican said today.

News • 25 Oct 16

Diarmuid Martin was speaking at the launch of preparations for the World Meeting of Families in St Patrick's College in Drumcondra

Joe Little: Martin's warning on defining family

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has warned the Catholic Church here not to get entangled in trying to define the family in the lead-up to a global church meeting on the topic in Dublin 2018.

Analysis and Comment • 22 Oct 16

Religious and Social Affairs

First of 165 emergency beds for homeless to open

Marginal reduction in Dublin homeless figures

Co Offaly man named Volunteer of the Year

Citizens' Assembly chair warns of task ahead

Assembly told poorer women cannot afford abortion

Pavee Point launches paper on Traveller health

Taoiseach to meet Pope in Vatican next week

Christian student teachers share training at DCU

Child care unit relied on gardaí for night safety

Pope extends power to forgive abortion to priests

Irishman among 17 new cardinals appointed by Pope

St Patrick's issues apology to victims of abuser

Child protection watchdog calls for housing action

CRC plan aims to create stronger organisation

Govt urged to prioritise adult safeguarding laws

School bill criticised for religious preference

Priests 'pitied, patronised, reviled, ignored'

SVP expects more than 50,000 calls for help

Hundreds protest against 'direct provision' system

Distribution of anti-Muslim leaflets criticised

More than 1,000 homeless families in Dublin

Non-recognition of Traveller ethnicity criticised

Vatican finance chief quizzed over abuse claims

Vatican says ashes should not be scattered

Joe Little: Martin's warning on defining family