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Open
RIVER RUNDOWN: Why are almost half of Ireland’s rivers in poor condition?
Ireland
Ireland’s fisheries watchdog is allocated over €30 million of public funds a year to safeguard our waterways.
10 Backers raised €250 of €3625
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Completed
THE TRANSPARENCY GAP: What do we really know about the funding of political parties in Europe?
International
Between 2019 and 2022, more than €1 billion has been donated to political parties across the European Union member states.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
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Completed
CHECKING PRIVILEGE: Do MEPs reflect the diversity of the EU?
International
People from across Europe are elected every five years to the European Parliament, but these MEPs do not represent all citizens of the EU on an equal footing.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
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Open
PRIVATE POWER: Are private companies influencing public health policies?
Ireland
The private health sector is being relied on to pick up the slack of growing public waiting lists and hospital backlogs.
7 Backers raised €160 of €3630
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Open
WEEDING IT OUT: Should glyphosate still be part of sustainable farming?
Ireland
The controversial weedkiller glyphosate is being sprayed by farmers as part of a scheme that aims to establish more environmentally friendly grazing areas.
4 Backers raised €150 of €1640
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Completed
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS: How are inadequate services impacting young people with psychosis?
Ireland
Early intervention is vital in treating people who experience psychosis, but these services have been starved of funding in recent years.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
 Read Now 
Open
DROWNING IN DEBT: Why do vulture funds still have a grip on Ireland?
Ireland
In the aftermath of the financial crisis, Ireland grappled with the consequences of loans being sold off to vulture funds.
5 Backers raised €95 of €3080
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Open
ROADSIDE RUBBISH: What does it cost to keep our streets clean?
Ireland
Less than a quarter of surveyed areas in Ireland are litter-free.
3 Backers raised €35 of €1045
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Open
SPECIAL EDUCATION: Are our schools really getting more inclusive?
Ireland
Though it is recommended that more students with special education needs be able to access education in mainstream schools, there is huge concern over the allocation of key supports required to enable this.
7 Backers raised €260 of €4660
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Open
WIND RUSH: Who is financing Ireland’s offshore wind farms?
Ireland
Ireland's ambitious plans for offshore wind energy has grabbed headlines around the world.
14 Backers raised €513 of €3625
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Completed
FEMICIDES IN EUROPE: How stark is the undeclared war on women?
International
Reports from across the continent, including Ireland, suggested that the Covid pandemic was not only a time of public health emergency and isolation, but also of rising cases of violence against women and femicides.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
 Read Now 
Open
GHOST ESTATES: What is happening to unfinished Celtic Tiger housing developments?
Ireland
At the end of 2022 there were still over 70 ‘ghost’ housing estates in Ireland, left unfinished following the 2008 financial crash.
3 Backers raised €50 of €2530
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Open
CHANGING TIDES: Is life in our marine protected areas safe or still in danger?
Ireland
Water quality along Ireland’s coast has further declined in recent years even within marine protected areas (MPAs), those regions set aside to safeguard ocean life.
20 Backers raised €605 of €1790
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Open
CHALLENGING CHINA: Is Ireland’s relationship with the communist state putting people at risk?
Ireland
In 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs shut down a Chinese ‘police’ station operating in Dublin city centre.
3 Backers raised €129 of €3920
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Completed
MEP MISBEHAVIOUR: Was Qatargate an isolated incident or the tip of the iceberg?
International
In what became known as ‘Qatargate‘, the European Parliament’s Vice President Eva Kaili and four others were arrested in December 2022, after police found €900,000 in alleged bribe cash stuffed in bags and suitcases.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
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Open
FRAUGHT FREIGHT: Why are subsidised cargo services so costly for islanders?
Regional
Residents of our offshore islands are forced to think twice before online shopping or ordering bulky goods as shipping costs can be more than double those on the mainland.
5 Backers raised €160 of €3030
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Open
QUANGO COMEBACK: Why does Ireland have so many State and semi-State bodies?
Ireland
In 2008, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development described Ireland’s public sector as an “organisational zoo” of State bodies.
2 Backers raised €50 of €3530
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Open
VARNISHED OVER: Are nail salon workers at risk from toxic chemicals?
Ireland
Nail salons aren’t thought of as hazardous workplaces but employees are exposed to toxic chemicals every day.
3 Backers raised €50 of €4020
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Completed
CALLING TIME: Are family visits a priority for the prison service?
Ireland
While the rest of the country resumes normal service, prison visits have not returned to pre-pandemic levels with children left cut off from their parents in prison.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
 Read Now 
Open
DIAGNOSIS DELAYED: Why are waiting lists for life-saving scans so long?
Ireland
Over 260,000 people are waiting on potentially life-saving health scans in Ireland’s hospitals.
6 Backers raised €240 of €2780
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Open
PHANTOM BUSES: Why do Dublin buses keep ghosting us?
Dublin
Have you ever been waiting for a bus, only to see it disappear from the display board or app?
11 Backers raised €175 of €2630
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Open
OFF AIR: How deep does abuse run in the Irish entertainment industry?
Ireland
Sexual assault allegations made against Russell Brand are the latest in a long string of cases concerning high-profile UK celebrities. But do we have issues closer to home?
22 Backers raised €920 of €7320
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Open
CARBON CREDIT: Are the State’s climate offsets really green or plain greenwashing?
International
The State has shelled out €120 million in recent years for carbon credits to offset its failure to hit climate and renewable energy targets. But how green are these credits in reality?
7 Backers raised €145 of €3575
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Completed
WILD NOT FREE: Is inaction on wildlife crime further threatening vulnerable species?
Ireland
Illegal hunting, poisoning and destruction of habitat: The future of Ireland’s wild animals and plants are at risk. Already, more than one in five protected species are threatened with extinction.
9 Backers raised €2630 of €2630
 Read Now 
Open
KICKED OUT: How easy is it for landlords to evict tenants under false pretences?
Ireland
Irish renters are being illegally evicted by landlords who say they’re selling up, only to increase the rent and relist the property.
13 Backers raised €465 of €2435
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Completed
WATER WORKS: Is discharge from Ireland’s largest water treatment plant wrecking the Liffey?
Kildare
Our biggest drinking water treatment plant discharges wastewater into the Liffey at a point in Kildare where locals say flow is not strong enough to dilute the nutrient-dense material.
5 Backers raised €3770 of €3770
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Open
LOOT LEGACY: Are Ireland’s museums hoarding historically stolen goods?
Ireland
Ireland has a number of artefacts in its museum collections which were unquestionably looted, often by Irish soldiers in British colonial service.
3 Backers raised €90 of €3965
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Open
BREATHING UNEASY: How exposed are children to pollution on the school run?
Dublin
Cars idling at school gates, heavy emissions from traffic at peak times: children in urban areas are facing toxic fumes as they make their way to school.
27 Backers raised €780 of €1440
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Open
ALL BARK: Is the workplace watchdog failing workers in high-risk industries?
Ireland
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is tasked with uncovering employee rights violations but is not currently protecting all workers.
4 Backers raised €155 of €4200
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Open
PLAN BEE: Are we letting the native Irish honey bee die out?
Ireland
Ireland is one of the last countries in Europe to have a significant population of pure native honey bees - but it is at risk of extinction because of the importation of foreign bees.
14 Backers raised €470 of €1980
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Completed
WASTED WETLANDS: Are renewables on peatlands causing more harm than good?
Ireland
Wind energy is Ireland’s main renewable source but the location of farms on peatlands - a key carbon sink - is causing concern among scientists and nature groups.
29 Backers raised €1655 of €1655
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Completed
CLIFF EDGE: Why are parking prices at the Cliffs of Moher so steep?
Clare
With over a million visitors a year, the Cliffs of Moher remain one of Ireland’s busiest tourist attractions. But parking at the site has been contentious for decades.
4 Backers raised €60 of €60
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Open
DIGGING DEEP: Is Ireland being carved up for mineral exploration?
Ireland
Around 20% of the island of Ireland is licensed for mineral exploration, raising alarm with local communities about the impact of new mining operations.
12 Backers raised €285 of €3190
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Open
WASTE OF MONEY: Why does putting the bins out cost more in some parts of Ireland?
Ireland
Irish households pay different amounts for their waste collection depending on where they live.
2 Backers raised €40 of €2215
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Open
LINE OF FIRE: Why is burning in the uplands going unpunished?
Ireland
Burning in the uplands is banned between March and August yet every year illegal fires are started, causing widespread damage to nature and putting homes at risk.
54 Backers raised €1695 of €3970
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Open
RESIDENTS AT RISK: Are profits being prioritised over people at disability residential centres?
Ireland
In 2022, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) revealed a “notable deterioration” in the management and governance of residential centres for disabled people.
5 Backers raised €165 of €3280
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Completed
ISLAND NATION: Is enough being done to tackle depopulation of Ireland’s islands?
Ireland
Population decline on the Irish islands was an ever-present threat for island dwellers following the Famine of the 1840s, and is on the cards again with worrying declines in recent years.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
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Completed
CREAMED OFF: Are Irish dairy exports hurting African farming communities?
International
A powdered product made from skimmed milk with added vegetable oil is flooding African markets and taking the place of locally produced milk.
37 Backers raised €3455 of €3355
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Completed
RECOVERY FILES: Are billions from Brussels being misspent?
International
At over €700 billion, the Covid recovery fund is the largest pot of money the EU has ever set up - but insufficient transparency and gaps in oversight were reported even before a penny was spent.
1 Backer raised €25 of €25
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Open
OVER THE THRESHOLD: Why are Irish rents still so unaffordable?
Ireland
When rent is more than 35% of your income, you pass the official threshold of ‘affordable’ housing. This is happening to more and more Irish people.
5 Backers raised €115 of €1840
 Learn More 
Open
BACKYARD BURN: Are authorities failing to crack down on private waste burning?
Ireland
Illegal burning of household waste is on the rise, despite its harmful effect on the air we breathe and the risk of causing uncontrolled fires.
6 Backers raised €145 of €1930
 Learn More 
Open
ASBOS ON TRIAL: Are children being unfairly penalised with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders?
National
Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) risk creating a criminal sanction for behaviour which is not criminal.
1 Backer raised €15 of €2730
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Completed
AGAINST THE GRAIN: How reliant are Irish livestock farms on imported feed?
Ireland
Despite our pasture-based grass fed livestock system, Ireland still faces a problem feeding its farmed animals. Millions of tonnes of feed is imported every year for cattle, while the demand from poultry and pig farms - with large indoor shed units - is on the rise.
34 Backers raised €1185 of €1185
 Read Now 
Open
POLICY PATCHWORK: Do schools have adequate policies to support transgender students?
Ireland
An absence of legislation in schools for transgender students means Ireland is a patchwork of policies.
9 Backers raised €250 of €1990
 Learn More 
Completed
SHALL NOT PASS: Is the State supporting hydropower at the expense of the natural world?
Ireland
The diversion of water to hydropower stations, often combined with problematic or non-existing fish passes, can have considerable impacts on important fish populations, such as salmon.
59 Backers raised €2755 of €2730
 Read Now 
Open
PAY IN PERSPECTIVE: Does CEO pay at State bodies exceed the public sector ceiling?
Ireland
The government introduced a pay ceiling of €250,000 for future CEOs of commercial State companies on the foot of the 2008 financial crisis.
1 Backer raised €10 of €1340
 Learn More 
Open
DOUBLE DIGITS: Which politicians are getting multiple pensions?
Ireland
Politicians have some of the highest pension pots in Ireland, with many on the upper rungs of the Oireachtas ladder getting two generous State pensions.
9 Backers raised €235 of €1730
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Open
NOT UNIFORM: Which schools still have gender-based dress codes?
Ireland
Schools across Ireland have strict uniform dress codes that often cause discomfort for boys and girls up and down the country.
10 Backers raised €170 of €1900
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Completed
WITH GREAT POWER: Why is a Wexford power plant causing concern?
South East
An independent report alleges there was a ‘major issue’ with water quality monitoring near the Great Island Power Station operated by SSE.
1 Backer raised €500 of €500
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Open
BORN TO BE WILD: Who is profiting from the unregulated exotic animal trade?
International
In Ireland, you need a licence to own a dog or television but not an exotic animal such as a tiger, sloth or python.
6 Backers raised €115 of €2400
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Completed
OVERSEAS IMPACT: Are Irish companies profiting at the expense of locals and ecosystems?
International
Ireland is one of the world’s most globalised countries, with companies benefiting from the production of goods and services abroad to turn a profit. But at what cost?
15 Backers raised €350 of €350
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Open
BALANCING THE BOOKS: Are publishers profiting from new school book editions?
Ireland
While new Government plans mean free school books for primary pupils, parents of secondary school children will continue to pay the costly expense.
11 Backers raised €185 of €1730
 Learn More 
Completed
LIFE AND DEATH: Are lives at risk from ambulance delays?
Regional
The ambulance service in rural areas has ongoing issues with long response times and delays that may be putting people's lives at risk.
3 Backers raised €35 of €35
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Open
PIPE DREAM: Is rural development being delayed by poor water infrastructure?
Ireland
Government policy to encourage development of rural towns and villages is being hit by underinvestment in water supply and wastewater infrastructure that is now limiting housing and business growth.
17 Backers raised €690 of €2200
 Learn More 
Open
EYES ON THE ROAD: What data is being collected on drivers and vehicles?
Ireland
The use of CCTV and number plate recognition technology by public authorities has ramped up in the last decade, causing concern over the privacy of road users.
4 Backers raised €70 of €2330
 Learn More 
Open
JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS: Are sports capital grants being dished out unfairly?
Ireland
There are concerns over the geographic spread of sports grants as well as lack of grant funding for certain sports types.
1 Backer raised €20 of €2210
 Learn More 
Completed
FREE DATA: Is the journey data of free travel pass holders being retained?
Ireland
Alleged excessive data gathering by the Department of Social Protection is being examined by the Data Protection Commission (DPC).
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
 Read Now 
Open
PRICE OF KNOWLEDGE: Are rising costs a barrier to third-level education?
Ireland
Ireland has the highest third-level fees in the EU, with students also burdened with record rental costs.
2 Backers raised €30 of €2530
 Learn More 
Open
PROLONGING GRIEF: Is the coroner process of investigating tragic deaths failing families?
Ireland
Recommendations to radically reform the coroner service were issued two decades ago yet most remain incomplete.
6 Backers raised €160 of €2930
 Learn More 
Completed
PEOPLE POWER: Is Ireland playing its part in overseas election observation?
Ireland
An average of almost 60 election observers were deployed from Ireland annually between 2013 and 2019, nominated from an overseas election roster. However, during the pandemic this work was suspended with Ireland not nominating observers for 18 months.
15 Backers raised €1940 of €1940
 Read Now 
Open
NO ROOM: How difficult is it for disabled people to secure a home in Ireland?
Ireland
There is a crisis within a crisis for disabled people who face increasingly long periods on housing waiting lists, with many left homeless or in unsuitable accommodation.
24 Backers raised €810 of €3275
 Learn More 
Completed
COURSE OF INACTION: Is animal welfare protected in the coursing industry?
Ireland
Even though the hare is protected under EU law, almost 70,000 hares have been legally captured since 2009 for use in the coursing industry where they are chased by trained greyhounds before being released.
119 Backers raised €3855 of €3850
 Read Now 
Open
RACK AND RUIN: Why are our protected buildings falling into disrepair?
Ireland
Ireland has a wide range of protected buildings for architectural, historical, archaeological and cultural importance. Yet, many are neglected or in dereliction and may soon be delisted.
18 Backers raised €610 of €2880
 Learn More 
Completed
THE UNPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: Are we taking women’s health seriously in Ireland?
Ireland
Women’s health in Ireland has been historically under-resourced. This has led to demand far outstripping supply and gynaecological services unable to adequately treat patients.
18 Backers raised €450 of €450
 Read Now 
Open
HIGH RISE: Are councils accounting for sea-level rise in coastal planning decisions?
Ireland
Despite increased climate risks from sea-level rise and coastal flooding, local authorities are still granting planning permission for industrial and housing sites close to the sea.
10 Backers raised €570 of €3890
 Learn More 
Completed
HANDS ON DECK: Are migrant workers being exploited in the Irish fishing industry?
Ireland
Extremely long working hours with few breaks and very low wages are among the poor conditions that face migrant workers in the Irish fishing fleet.
5 Backers raised €200 of €200
 Read Now 
Completed
DELAYED DELIVERY: Is the rollout of Progressing Disability Services leaving children and teens in limbo?
Ireland
The provision of services for children and teenagers with a developmental delay or disability has historically been a patchy affair in Ireland.
23 Backers raised €580 of €580
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Completed
OFF LEASH: Why are authorities failing to tackle violent attacks by dogs?
Ireland
Off-lead dogs have attacked people in a series of traumatic incidents in recent years, with little to no action taken against pet owners due to lax laws and a limited enforcement regime.
23 Backers raised €610 of €610
 Read Now 
Completed
SPECIALIST CARE: Are we looking after our intern doctors and specialist trainees?
Ireland
During their years of training, doctors often work excessive hours and experience poor work environments in the Irish healthcare system.
41 Backers raised €1215 of €1215
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Completed
CLASSROOM TO IMPROVE: Why are our children still educated in prefabs?
Ireland
Most students who have come through the Irish primary and secondary school system over the past number of decades will almost certainly have experienced classes in prefabricated buildings.
4 Backers raised €55 of €55
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Completed
STATE OF EMERGENCY: Why is overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick still so acute - and what does that mean for patients?
Limerick
Over the past five years, University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has been the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland, with the most people waiting for a free bed year-on-year.
3 Backers raised €60 of €60
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Completed
WATCHING THE WATCHDOG: How is GSOC dealing with the public’s complaints?
Ireland
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has the power to independently investigate gardaí but since its establishment in 2007, issues have been raised in relation to whistleblowers, resources and handling of cases.
5 Backers raised €2540 of €2540
 Read Now 
Open
ECONOMY CLASS: Why do so many schools need a handout from parents?
Ireland
Schools are saddled with debt and rely on parents to pay for essentials such as heating, lighting, insurance and equipment.
8 Backers raised €85 of €2770
 Learn More 
Open
SOIL INVADERS: Why are invasive plants spreading out of control in Ireland?
Ireland
Invasive alien species are a threat to Ireland’s native plants, human health and economy.
44 Backers raised €1057 of €2940
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Completed
OVER THE HILL: Can overgrazing on Ireland’s vulnerable habitats be stopped?
Ireland
Intensive grazing and overgrazing is impacting almost 40% of all EU protected habitats in Ireland and is by far the most prevalent agricultural pressure in these areas.
32 Backers raised €1660 of €1660
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Completed
VANISHING PAST: Are Ireland's historic sites at risk of disappearing?
Ireland
Despite Ireland being famous across the world for its ancient sites and historic buildings, some are at risk of being wiped from the map.
10 Backers raised €346 of €346
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Completed
BEATHA TEANGA: An bhfuil coinníollacha pleanála agus deonuithe á chur i bhfeidhm chun cinntiú go bhfásann ceantracha Gaeltachta?
Ireland
Tá líon na ndaoine a labhrann Gaeilge i gceantracha Gaeltachta ag titm, le níos lú ná aon cheathrú de mhuintir na háite ag labhairt Gaeilge go laethúil, dar leis an daonáireamh deirneach.
0 Backers raised €0 of €0
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Completed
LIGHTS OUT: Why are we facing an Irish electricity crisis?
Ireland
As we face the climate crisis, a key strand of the State’s strategy to reduce our emissions is to electrify our energy, heat and transport systems using renewables such as wind and solar.
302 Backers raised €3125 of €2830
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Completed
FAST FASHION: Are we doing enough to tackle fashion’s throwaway culture in Ireland?
Ireland
Every year, the average Irish citizen generates 35kg of textile waste. These discarded clothes often end up in incinerators and landfills or being dumped abroad.
12 Backers raised €280 of €280
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Completed
IN THE WEEDS: How toxic is our use of weedkillers at home and by public authorities?
Ireland
There is ample scientific evidence that herbicides used to kill weeds can cause long-term damage to pollinator insects. There are now emerging links to impacts on human health.
84 Backers raised €2420 of €2420
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Funded
UP MANURE CREEK: What toll is slurry spreading taking on our health and nature?
Ireland
Slurry is a key fertiliser to boost grass and crop growth on farms, yet it also impacts air quality, heightens the risk of spreading antibiotic-resistance to humans, and can pollute waterways.
85 Backers raised €2360 of €2310
 Funded 
Completed
FAILURE TO PROTECT: Are children being left in the hands of sexual abusers?
Ireland
Most cases of child sexual violence in Ireland are perpetrated by a family member. Yet, only 4% of cases reported to gardaí are prosecuted.
12 Backers raised €425 of €425
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Open
UP IN SMOKE: What role does domestic wood burning play in Ireland’s air pollution problems?
Ireland
Each year, 1,300 people die prematurely due to air pollution from solid fuel burning, including wood. The practice has come under the spotlight for its role in poor air quality in our towns and villages.
11 Backers raised €295 of €2340
 Learn More 
Open
REHAB WAIT: Why are people waiting up to two years for a drug detox bed?
Dublin
A rising demand for drug treatment is recognised in the current Government drug strategy, yet thousands continue to wait for months, and sometimes years, to be admitted to a detox bed.
9 Backers raised €480 of €2230
 Learn More 
Completed
KIDS IN CARE: Are children falling through the cracks of the care system?
Ireland
Almost 6,000 children are currently living in care in Ireland, with nearly 90% of those in foster care. As of January 2023, only 84% of children in care had an allocated social worker; 873 children did not have this support.
8 Backers raised €170 of €170
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Completed
BREAKING THE BANKS: Are Irish riverside habitats under threat from over-maintenance?
Ireland
Clearing of vegetation from waterways is a regular occurrence across the country as part of the mandated maintenance of over 11,500km of channels and 800km of embankments.
82 Backers raised €3130 of €3100
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Completed
ACROSS THE BOARD: Are rural grants being distributed equally under the LEADER scheme?
Ireland
Since 2014, €220 million worth of rural projects have been funded through the LEADER programme which are administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs).
19 Backers raised €3124 of €3120
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Completed
LOST FOR WORDS: Why does Ireland not have any quality standards for vital service interpreters?
Dublin
Those who need the services of a language interpreter in Ireland may find their voices unheard, as a number of reports in recent years highlighted the ‘uneven quality’ of this service and lack of training standards.
8 Backers raised €170 of €170
 Read Now 
Completed
SYSTEM OVERLOAD: The public health system was creaking before the pandemic - has Covid-19 broken it?
Ireland
At the start of 2021, Ireland had a backlog of thousands of positive Covid-19 tests awaiting validation.
52 Backers raised €1840 of €1840
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Completed
TRADE OFF: Are we turning a blind eye to animal welfare concerns in the live export trade?
Ireland
The live export trade has grown substantially in recent years as incomes dwindle in the domestic market, with the Minister for Agriculture recently calling the trade “a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry”.
50 Backers raised €2100 of €2100
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Completed
GOING TO BED HUNGRY: Is the State tackling food poverty?
Ireland
People go to bed hungry in Ireland every day with almost one in ten households here experiencing food poverty - being unable to get healthy affordable food.
24 Backers raised €581 of €581
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Completed
STOLEN WHEELS: How can we stop rampant bike theft in this country?
Ireland
Over 14 bikes are stolen every day in Ireland with the pandemic leading to not just a surge in cycling but also bike theft.
57 Backers raised €1640 of €1640
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Completed
TOUGH START: Is the opportunity gap for Traveller children ever going to close?
Ireland
Children in the Irish Traveller community are at a disadvantage from the moment they are born. Infant mortality is over three times higher, suicide is six to seven times higher and life expectancy is over a decade lower than the general population.
69 Backers raised €2130 of €2130
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Completed
FACTORY FARM: Are we prioritising profits over animal welfare and human health?
Ireland
The traditional image of the small Irish family farm is slowly slipping away with many farms growing more industrialised in response to ambitious production targets set by the State.
87 Backers raised €2730 of €2720
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Completed
PITCH IMPERFECT: Are astroturf pitches bad for our green spaces?
Ireland
Concerns have been raised internationally over the potential environmental impacts from small microplastic fibres used as infill on artificial sports pitches - with estimates of between 60 and 120 tonnes of the material required for one pitch alone.
9 Backers raised €220 of €220
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Completed
TROUBLED WATERS: Are salmon fish farms harming our marine ecosystem?
Ireland
The fish farming industry is in a phase of rapid growth; it overtook global beef production in 2012.
43 Backers raised €2400 of €2400
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Completed
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Can Ireland halt the decline of its precious biodiversity?
Ireland
Ireland’s biodiversity is under threat. According to a 2019 report, 85% of our EU protected habitats are in an “unfavourable” condition and 46% are showing ongoing decline.
59 Backers raised €1800 of €1800
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Completed
REVOLVING DOOR: What influence do former politicians have in Leinster House?
National
In recent years, several former ministers and other politicians have also ended up working as lobbyists across a range of business interests.
57 Backers raised €1605 of €1605
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Completed
HOLY LAND: How much money are religious orders pocketing from lucrative property sales?
Ireland
Properties worth millions - and offered by religious congregations for redress in institutional child abuse cases - have yet to be handed over to fulfil that promise.
43 Backers raised €1640 of €1640
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Completed
RED FLAG: Is swimming off Ireland's coast under threat from pollution?
Ireland
While almost 80% of our bathing water was classed as excellent in 2022, a wave of swimming bans have hit beaches across the country in recent years due to water quality issues linked to pollution problems and our changing climate.
65 Backers raised €1690 of €1690
 Read Now 
Completed
SILENT TREATMENT: Are people with eating disorders being failed by the public health system?
Ireland
The HSE is currently implementing a national clinical programme for eating disorders but there have been significant issues with its roll-out, with just a small fraction of money allocated to improve supports and treatment actually spent on this since 2018.
34 Backers raised €1065 of €1065
 Read Now 
Completed
PEAT'S SAKE: Why have authorities failed to tackle unlicensed industrial peat extraction?
Ireland
Protection of our peatlands has been described by experts as the low hanging fruit in tackling the dual climate and biodiversity crises.
76 Backers raised €2530 of €2530
 Read Now 
Completed
BIRTH PLACE: Why does the Irish health service offer so little choice for expectant mothers?
Ireland
The National Maternity Strategy states that “there is a lack of choice for expectant mothers”. It proposed a model of care that “represents a fundamental overhaul of services” which are currently “largely consultant-led and hospital-based”.
57 Backers raised €2030 of €2030
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Completed
CASH COW: Are subsidies encouraging unsustainable farming practices?
Ireland
The farm has a big role to play in the fight against climate change, yet experts argue that it is difficult to shift to a nature-friendly model while subsidies favour intensive production.
48 Backers raised €1150 of €1150
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Completed
WASTE AWAY: Where do soft plastics in our recycling bin end up?
Ireland
Soft plastics can now be placed in Irish recycling bins following a change in policy in September 2021. But how much of this actually ends up being recycled on our island?
54 Backers raised €1180 of €1180
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Completed
SHEAR FORCE: Why are hedgerows still being cut during the prohibited season?
Ireland
Every summer, social media streams are inundated with photos of roadside hedges decimated across the country even though it is illegal to cut them from 1 March to 31 August.
54 Backers raised €1655 of €1630
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Completed
RACISM AT WORK: Is ethnic discrimination placing barriers before people in the workplace?
Ireland
Ireland’s population has diversified over the past decade, with 82% of the population identifying as white Irish in the 2016 Census, compared to 94% in 2011.
24 Backers raised €517 of €517
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Completed
REAPING THE HARVEST: Have years of neglect left horticulture at a pandemic-provoked tipping point?
Ireland
In March, at the height of the coronavirus crisis, the European Commission issued guidelines that seasonal agricultural workers be treated as frontline workers in order to save fruit and veg harvests.
25 Backers raised €1700 of €1700
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Completed
CHILDCARE CROSSROADS: How do we construct a childcare system in post-pandemic Ireland that works for everyone?
Ireland
Childcare provision was one of the sectors almost immediately thrown into crisis by the Covid outbreak - but its challenges have been apparent for some years now.
30 Backers raised €615 of €615
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Completed
TRAPPED WITH TORMENTORS: How can we protect people from abuse and violence during the pandemic?
Ireland
During this pandemic, home is a place of refuge and safety for most of us. But for thousands of women, men and children, home feels like the most dangerous place they could be.
16 Backers raised €720 of €700
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Completed
CARING FOR CARERS: What’s life like for care workers in the coronavirus crisis?
Ireland
As Ireland grapples with the fallout from Covid-19, we want to see how one group of frontline workers - home carers - are faring, particularly when it comes to their pay and conditions.
20 Backers raised €1375 of €1375
 Read Now 
Completed
FUELLING RETIREMENT: Are Irish pensions contributing to the climate crisis?
Ireland
In 2019, Ireland became one of the first countries in the world to divest its investment fund away from companies that make substantial profit from fossil fuels. However, the majority of private Irish pension funds still include companies involved in oil and gas exploration, extraction and refinement.
46 Backers raised €1240 of €1240
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Completed
EYES RIGHT: How is the far right influencing Irish public opinion online?
Ireland
Though far right parties failed to return a single candidate in the general election, there is growing concern about the rise of the far right views and ideology in Ireland.
76 Backers raised €1910 of €1910
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Completed
ASSESSING AUTISM: Why are children left waiting for years for support?
Ireland
Research shows that early diagnosis of autism leading to early interventions and treatment can have major long-term positive effects for children.
29 Backers raised €710 of €710
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Completed
BLIND JUSTICE: Is everyone equal in the eyes of the Irish law and prison system?
Ireland
Around the world, minority groups are overrepresented in prisons. In New Zealand, indigenous Maori people make up 15% of the population but half of the prison population while, in the US, black people are over five times more likely than white people to go to prison.
58 Backers raised €1890 of €1890
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Completed
BANKS OF THE LEE: What is going to stop flooding in Cork city?
Cork
The Lee in Cork city has burst its banks on numerous occasions in the past and with sea levels set to rise due to climate change, concern is increasing about the need for better flood protection for its businesses and residents.
29 Backers raised €2900 of €2900
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Completed
NET LOSS: Is Ireland killing its own fishing industry... by overfishing?
Ireland
Declining fish stock is one the major challenges to the Irish fishing industry. One of Ireland’s most important fisheries, Celtic Sea herring, was closed last year just 48 hours after the seasonal fishery opened due to the small size of fish caught. Reduced levels of these fish also have an impact on animals who depend on them such as whales and dolphins.
16 Backers raised €1950 of €1950
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Completed
PARKING PRESSURE: Why are patients and families still paying high rates to park at hospitals?
Ireland
Patients, visitors, and staff of Irish hospitals are forking out over €60,000 every day to park at hospitals around the country. In 2017, for example, €22.4 million was raised by hospitals from parking, making it an important source of funding for them.
2 Backers raised €20 of €20
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Completed
SELLING OUR GENES: Should the Government be funding a private company to collect 400,000 Irish people’s DNA?
Ireland
Personal data is big business - and nothing is more personal than our genetic blueprint.
74 Backers raised €2300 of €2300
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Completed
SPRUCED UP: Are coniferous trees killing our native ecosystem?
Ireland
A Government plan to plant almost 400 million trees by 2046 was announced as part of the Climate Action Plan in the past few months. There is a target of 70% conifers and 30% broadleaf for these new plantations which has led to some biodiversity advocates being concerned about the continued afforestation of Ireland by non-native conifers.
54 Backers raised €1950 of €1950
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Completed
RISK TO BABY: Why were Irish women not told for decades about an epilepsy drug that causes birth defects?
Ireland
Sodium valproate is an epilepsy medicine commonly sold under the name Epilim. It was known since its availability in the 1970s that it may cause birth defects if used in pregnancy yet for decades many women across the world were prescribed this drug without being warned of this risk by their doctors.
16 Backers raised €580 of €580
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Completed
COST OF CARBON: Are companies paying their fair share on emissions?
Ireland
Ireland is exceeding its greenhouse gas emissions targets by millions of tonnes per year. It has been warned that it is not doing enough, quickly enough, to reduce that excess.
74 Backers raised €2050 of €2050
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Completed
LIFT OUT: When is public transport going to be fully accessible to disabled people?
Ireland
Access to public transport has been highlighted as a problem in Ireland for many years with notice needed for commuter trains, numerous bus stops inaccessible, some areas not covered by any service and accessible taxis in short supply.
54 Backers raised €1200 of €1200
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Completed
BICYCLE BLACKSPOTS: Which roads and junctions are the most dangerous for cyclists in Ireland?
Ireland
The number of people cycling in Ireland has risen dramatically in recent years.
34 Backers raised €725 of €700
 Read Now 
Completed
SOLVING SOLAR: Why are we not putting solar panels on the roof of every home in Ireland?
Ireland
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels use energy from the sun to create electricity. The price of these panels has dropped significantly over the past number of decades, so what is stopping households from installing them?
16 Backers raised €760 of €750
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Completed
DEAD END: Will Galway’s long promised ring road make a significant difference to traffic congestion in the city?
Galway
It was 1999 when a bypass was first proposed for the city of Galway. Since then, traffic congestion has grown ever worse and long delays have become a feature of daily life for those who live and work there. For a relatively compact city, congestion is far worse than might be expected, not least because public transport options are so limited.
39 Backers raised €1200 of €1200
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Completed
FUNDING FERTILITY: Has the delay in publicly funding IVF destroyed people’s chance to have children?
Ireland
Around one in six couples in Ireland experience difficulty when trying to have children and will face thousands of euro in costs if they seek fertility treatment.
28 Backers raised €950 of €950
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Completed
ACADEMIC UNCERTAINTY: How are universities and institutes of technology allowed to employ so many researchers and lecturers on precarious contracts?
Ireland
In Ireland, we hold academics in high esteem but are they being treated properly by their employers and the Government?
44 Backers raised €1300 of €1300
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Completed
LOSING FAITH: Why is it taking so long to provide non-denominational school options to parents around the country?
Ireland
With one in ten Irish people declaring they have no religion in the latest census, the provision of suitable education options is becoming ever more pressing.
10 Backers raised €1450 of €1450
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Completed
WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE: How much did a controversial road scheme in Kilkenny City actually cost and has it delivered what it was supposed to?
Kilkenny
It was one of the most controversial road developments of recent years in Ireland, a plan to build a new bridge across the River Nore in Kilkenny.
46 Backers raised €1371 of €1350
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Completed
THE CONSTRUCTION NETWORK: Connecting the dots between the government and lobbyists for developers and the construction industry
Ireland
From the nearly 1,900 lobbyists registered in Ireland, many lobby on behalf of the construction industry and property development companies keen to see the Irish property market expand.
128 Backers raised €3200 of €3200
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Completed
SPEAK OR SURVIVE? Are survivors of sexual abuse properly supported when they come forward?
National
At least one in four people experience sexual abuse in childhood. About 80 per cent are abused by a person known to them; most often, a family member.
48 Backers raised €1440 of €1410
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Completed
LYING IDLE: How many state properties are lying vacant around the country.
Ireland
The Office of Public Works manages over 2,500 properties around Ireland on behalf of the state.
9 Backers raised €360 of €350
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Completed
SEPTIC SWIM: Is enough being done to keep Dublin Bay safe for swimmers this summer?
Dublin
Effluent leaks have resulted in pollution incidents along the eastern coastline at least twice so far this year - and bathing restrictions were put in place at popular Dublin beaches.
2 Backers raised €400 of €400
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Completed
PARENT RIGHTS: Why are same-sex couples and other parents still in legal limbo with their own children?
Ireland
Half a decade after Ireland’s historic marriage equality vote, many same-sex couples and so-called ‘non-traditional families’ still face discrimination when it comes to their rights as parents.
24 Backers raised €751 of €750
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Completed
CUT DOWN TO SIZE: Why are Ireland's local authorities so keen to chop down trees?
Ireland
Across Ireland, locals have been dismayed to see trees and bushes chopped down by public bodies.
47 Backers raised €1100 of €1100
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Completed
BURYING THE PAST: Behind the scenes of government talks on Tuam Mother and Baby Home
National
In October of last year, Minister Katherine Zappone announced that the Bon Secours Sisters religious congregation had agreed to contribute €2.5 million towards the costs of excavating the burial site at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.
2 Backers raised €252 of €250
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Completed
PRICE OF BEAUTY: Are people taking a risk when they opt for dermal fillers?
National
Dermal fillers have become one of the treatments of choice for people in Ireland wanting to rid themselves of wrinkles.
1 Backer raised €900 of €900
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Completed
FOLLOWING THE HERD: Why are Meningitis C vaccination rates so far behind target in parts of Ireland?
National
For many parents, the word meningitis is enough to send shivers down their spine.
2 Backers raised €353 of €350
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Completed
SHORT-TERM LET, LONG-TERM PAIN: Why do councils struggle to put a stop to properties being used exclusively on sites like Airbnb?
National
Property owners can pull in hundreds of euro per night renting out homes as round-the-year accommodation on platforms like Airbnb and hotel booking sites, making similar amounts in a week to what they could otherwise expect to receive in a month or more from a long-term tenant.
5 Backers raised €800 of €800
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Completed
NOT SO FAST: Strategic Housing Development speeds up planning process for developers but is it helping increase the supply of accommodation?
Ireland
In June 2017, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy introduced a new system of fast-track planning for housing developments.
2 Backers raised €404 of €400
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Completed
LATE INTERVENTION: Why does it take over two years to get early intervention appointments for some children?
Ireland
Across the country, there are thousands of young children in need of early intervention.
9 Backers raised €1100 of €1100
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Completed
PROTECTING THE PROTECTORS: The mental health crisis in the Defence Forces.
National
Almost a year ago, the only psychiatrist working in the Defence Forces retired from his post.
2 Backers raised €252 of €250
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Completed
SINK OR SWIM: How could an historic sea baths get renovated yet remain closed to swimmers for six months each year?
Dublin
It cost €2.4 million to refurbish with local residents hoping that their long-closed sea water swimming baths would finally re-open to the public.
4 Backers raised €503 of €500
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Completed
IRELAND’S ADDICTION: Why is there so little regulation of the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling?
National
Gambling in Ireland is a gigantic industry with at least €5 billion - or €9,500 every minute - staked in bets last year.
23 Backers raised €2425 of €2400
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Completed
POLITICAL PENSIONS: How much is paid out each year in political and ministerial pensions?
National
Until last year, the Department of Finance published details of how much it paid in pensions to former ministers, taoisigh, presidents, judges, and other ex-officeholders.
2 Backers raised €110 of €100
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Completed
AWAY FROM PRYING EYES: Why do some local authorities still not webcast their meetings?
National
Almost fifteen years ago, Fingal County Council became the first local authority in Ireland to make its council meetings available live online.
13 Backers raised €1165 of €1100
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Completed
COMPO CLAIMS: Does Ireland really have a ‘compensation culture’?
National
The government minister responsible for the insurance industry has said there are 'clusters' for compensation claims in Ireland.
8 Backers raised €1260 of €1250
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Completed
SELLING THE FAMILY SILVER: Dublin City Council's plans to 'consolidate' 33 valuable depot sites.
Dublin
Across Dublin city, there are a network of 33 council depot sites – many of them located on prime development land.
4 Backers raised €100 of €100
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Completed
INFLATING GRADES: Is it getting easier to graduate with first class honours?
National
Almost every generation seems to think they had it much harder than the one that follows.
6 Backers raised €1350 of €1350
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