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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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Open
OVER THE THRESHOLD: Are people paying unaffordable levels of rent in Ireland?
Ireland
Rent in Ireland is increasing while supply is at its lowest level in decades.
2 Backers raised €45 of €1840
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Open
BACKYARD BURN: Are authorities failing to crack down on private waste burning?
Ireland
It is illegal to burn waste in your garden as it releases harmful chemicals into the air we breathe, contaminates surrounding vegetation and can cause uncontrolled fires.
6 Backers raised €145 of €1930
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Open
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.
20 Backers raised €745 of €1740
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Open
POLICY PATCHWORK: Do schools have adequate policies to support transgender students?
Ireland
Responsibility for drafting policies for transgender students in school falls to individual boards of management with no centralised State guidelines, meaning that Ireland is a patchwork of policies.
6 Backers raised €210 of €1990
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Funded
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
 Funded 
Open
PAY IN PERSPECTIVE: Are wages at State bodies in line with public sector standards?
Ireland
Though most State-owned companies reported reduced profits in recent years as the country emerged from the pandemic, some - such as ESB Networks - have nevertheless remained highly profitable.
1 Backer raised €10 of €1340
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Open
NOT UNIFORM: Why do schools still have gender-based dress codes?
Ireland
Most schools in Ireland enforce strict dress codes with uniforms, sometimes even specifying the colour of scarf to be worn and minimum length of skirt.
6 Backers raised €80 of €1900
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Open
BALANCING THE BOOKS: Are publishers profiting from new school book editions?
Ireland
Despite the Government introducing free school books for primary school pupils from September 2023, they continue to be one of the most costly expenses for parents of secondary school students.
9 Backers raised €165 of €1730
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Open
PIPE DREAM: Are delays in water infrastructure upgrades holding up rural development?
Ireland
It is government policy to encourage development of rural towns and villages due to the environmental, climate and social benefits for society including people living close to services, reducing car dependency and strengthening local communities.
12 Backers raised €380 of €2200
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Open
EYES ON THE ROAD: What data is being collected on drivers and vehicles?
Ireland
Over the past decade, an increasing amount of CCTV cameras, number plate recognition technology and traffic management tools are utilised by public authorities in Ireland.
3 Backers raised €50 of €2330
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Open
JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS: Are sports capital grants fairly distributed?
Ireland
Concerns over the geographic breakdown of sports grants as well as lack of grant funding for certain sports types have been raised in recent years.
1 Backer raised €20 of €2210
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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 increasingly higher accommodation costs.
2 Backers raised €30 of €2530
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Open
PROLONGING GRIEF: Is the coroner process of investigating tragic deaths failing families?
Ireland
Over 20 years ago, radical reform and major reconfiguration of the coroner service was recommended, yet a recent report stated that most of these reforms remain incomplete.
4 Backers raised €120 of €2930
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Open
FREE TO AIR: Why are fans losing open access to viewing sporting events?
Ireland
Major sporting events in Ireland’s three leading sports - GAA, soccer and rugby - have traditionally been broadcast as free-to-air events for all to see on national TV.
0 Backers raised €0 of €1960
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Open
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.
11 Backers raised €640 of €1940
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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 are left homeless or in unsuitable accommodation.
18 Backers raised €610 of €3275
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Open
COURSE OF INACTION: Is animal welfare protected in the coursing industry?
Ireland
The hare is protected under national and EU law. Yet, 60,000 hares were legally captured between 2009 and 2021 for use in the coursing industry where they are chased by trained greyhounds.
72 Backers raised €1710 of €3850
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Open
RACK AND RUIN: Why are our protected buildings falling into disrepair?
Ireland
Ireland is home to a wide variety of buildings protected due to their architectural, historical, archaeological and cultural importance.
7 Backers raised €200 of €2880
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Open
THE UNPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: Are we taking women’s sexual and reproductive health seriously in Ireland?
Ireland
Endometriosis is a condition that affects 10% of Irish women and can cause significant pain and disability and yet the first endometriosis clinic in Ireland was only set up in 2021.
11 Backers raised €255 of €2970
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Open
HIGH RISE: Are councils accounting for the impact of sea level rise in planning decisions?
Ireland
As climate change takes hold in Ireland, storms, sea-level rise and acidification will become more intense, with coastal flooding and erosion further impacting our coastline.
7 Backers raised €480 of €3890
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Open
BREAK-IN: Are we doing enough to protect communities from crime in rural Ireland?
Ireland
Rural crime has been an issue for many years, with serious and sometimes violent incidents leaving people to question if communities living in remote areas of Ireland are being properly protected by authorities.
0 Backers raised €0 of €3520
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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 
Open
BUNGALOW BLITZ: Is our rural housing model bad for sustainable planning?
Ireland
One-off housing in rural Ireland has been a bone of contention for at least half a century. In the 1970s, An Foras Forbartha - the precursor to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - warned that scattered rural housing was costing the State up to five times more to service than closely knit dwellings for road maintenance and supply of electricity, waste, and other services.
7 Backers raised €195 of €2880
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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
 Read Now 
Open
OFF LEASH: How can we bring loose dogs under control?
Ireland
While dog ownership has exploded since the pandemic, with an estimated 800,000 pet dogs now in Ireland, there are also calls for increased control of dogs.
9 Backers raised €255 of €2340
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Open
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.
36 Backers raised €1010 of €2430
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Open
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.
3 Backers raised €50 of €2035
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Open
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: Why is Naas surrounded by vacant industrial sites?
Ireland
Traditionally, a market town in a rural setting, today Naas is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the Dublin commuter belt and an important node in the regional economy of Kildare. This was exemplified in 2015, when Kerry Group built its new global research centre just outside the town.
4 Backers raised €120 of €1695
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Open
NO KIDDING: Are au pairs being exploited by Irish households?
Ireland
There are an estimated 15,000 childminders working in Ireland but despite widespread exploitation being highlighted within the sector a number of years ago, issues for au pairs continue to surface.
0 Backers raised €0 of €2800
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Funded
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
 Funded 
Open
FALLING DOWN: Is our building inspection regime papering over the cracks?
Ireland
In the wake of the Mica scandal in Donegal, there have been renewed calls for a mandatory inspection regime during construction of all builds, similar to the system in Northern Ireland.
4 Backers raised €220 of €2760
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Open
ECONOMY CLASS: Why do schools still rely on parents to pay for essentials?
Ireland
Children in Ireland are entitled to free education yet schools continue to rely on parents to help pay for essentials such as heating, lighting, insurance and classroom equipment. This is due to the ongoing funding gap between running costs and State grants.
6 Backers raised €65 of €2770
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Open
PUSHING PILLS: Is there an overprescription problem in our nursing homes?
Ireland
The inappropriate prescribing of drugs to residents of nursing homes is a global problem and Ireland is no different.
20 Backers raised €500 of €3770
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Open
SOIL INVADERS: Are invasive plants spreading out of control in Ireland?
Ireland
Invasive alien species represent one of the main threats to biodiversity and related ecosystem services - especially on islands, according to the European Commission.
23 Backers raised €432 of €2940
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Open
BILL OF HEALTH : Are wellness pyramid schemes preying on Irish consumers?
Ireland
The wellness, health and beauty industries have become big business in recent years globally - but not all players are interested in the wellbeing of their clients. A nasty side shoot has sprung up of​​ so-called wellness schemes that make dubious claims of health benefits and promise easy money in return for an initial investment.
1 Backer raised €20 of €2300
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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
 Read Now 
Open
BOTTOMLESS PIT: Why are some quarries operating outside planning laws?
Ireland
There are a spate of rules and regulations in place to ensure that quarries operate within the bounds of national and European law.
18 Backers raised €650 of €4290
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Open
VANISHING PAST: Is Ireland's archaeological heritage at risk of disappearing?
Ireland
Protections for newly discovered national monuments have been radically reduced in the past decade and a half, since a 2004 amendment to the National Monuments Act. This change gave extra power to the State to remove them if they were in the way of certain projects such as motorways.
9 Backers raised €296 of €3420
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Open
COVID CONTRACTS: In crisis mode, does the tendering process go out the window?
Ireland
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been issues with contracts and delivery of equipment such as ventilators across the world.
4 Backers raised €50 of €2890
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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
 Read Now 
Open
WASH IT DOWN: Is Ireland’s pharma industry waste helping the spread of superbugs?
Ireland
Superbugs - microbes resistant to most drugs - are "one of the biggest threats to global health", according to the WHO. But how are they developing this resistance?
1 Backer raised €20 of €3430
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Open
MAKE ENDS MEAT: What are conditions like for meat factory workers in Ireland?
Ireland
The Covid pandemic highlighted poor conditions for workers in meat processing plants in Ireland as one of the first industries to report frequent outbreaks of the virus.
11 Backers raised €260 of €3200
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Open
EMPTY THE TANK: Are our septic tanks being managed correctly?
Ireland
There are nearly half a million septic tank systems in operation that can contaminate water sources with harmful bacteria, viruses and excess nutrients if not built and maintained properly.
8 Backers raised €135 of €1840
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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
 Read Now 
Open
BEHIND THE SCENES: Is there a culture of harassment within the Irish film industry?
Ireland
The Me Too movement has shook up Hollywood and put the spotlight firmly on a sordid history of sexual abuse and harassment within the film industry in the US.
1 Backer raised €10 of €2925
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Open
APP LIFE: How is Ireland treating workers in the gig economy?
Ireland
Insecure, short-term jobs have become a staple of our lives, with those working in the gig economy providing essential services during the pandemic, sometimes with little reward.
4 Backers raised €165 of €2750
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Open
BUILDING BLOCKED: Where has Ireland fallen down on social housing policy?
Ireland
Ireland has become a country where the idea of social and affordable housing has gone from a near certainty to a vague aspiration for many generations of would-be homeowners in the space of a few decades.
14 Backers raised €285 of €4035
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Open
FAST FASHION: Are we doing enough to tackle fashion’s throwaway culture in Ireland?
Ireland
Lower prices and greater availability of clothes has led to the low-use throwaway culture dubbed fast fashion.
11 Backers raised €260 of €3140
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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
 Read Now 
Open
MISSING INGREDIENT: Are food companies misleading the consumer over origin of certain food products?
Ireland
Concerns have been raised in recent years that customers can’t easily identify the true origins of products that fill our supermarket shelves - from fruit and veg to tinned goods and pre-packed food.
3 Backers raised €50 of €3360
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Open
WAITING ROOM: Why is it difficult for many to get access to a local GP?
Ireland
General practitioner services have been under severe pressure since the pandemic resulting in longer appointment waiting times and leaving many struggling to find a GP in their area.
6 Backers raised €240 of €3190
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Open
UP MANURE CREEK: Why is traditional slurry spreading happening when it’s bad for human health?
Ireland
Slurry is one of the most popular fertilisers on farms as the manure and water mix offers a cheap boost of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to boost grass and crop growth.
18 Backers raised €570 of €2310
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Open
DEBT OF DAIRY: Is State agri-expansion policy driving up debt in the dairy sector?
Ireland
On the face of it, the dairy sector is doing well; it has seen a resurgence in production and profit since the end of the milk quota in 2015.
5 Backers raised €225 of €2320
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Open
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.
8 Backers raised €310 of €3820
 Learn More 
Open
CROSSING FOR CARE: Is Ireland using a cross border scheme to export its healthcare issues?
Ireland
Irish patients continue to travel abroad for appointments with consultants and for much-needed surgeries in order to avoid long waiting lists here.
2 Backers raised €40 of €2715
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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.
9 Backers raised €265 of €2340
 Learn More 
Open
WHAT THE FRACK: Is there a renewed risk of fracking on the island of Ireland?
Ireland
In July 2017, Ireland became one of only a handful of countries in the world to ban fracking - the controversial technique used to extract natural gas from areas rich in shale rock.
9 Backers raised €182 of €2390
 Learn More 
Open
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 almost 90% of those in foster care. As of October 2022, 87% of children in care had an allocated social worker, meaning over 750 children did not have this support.
6 Backers raised €100 of €2330
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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
 Read Now 
Open
SHORED UP: Can our laws catch up with the commercial use of our coasts?
Ireland
In recent years, Ireland's coastal areas have seen an upsurge in plans for commercial activities - from offshore wind farms to industrial-scale seaweed harvesting.
5 Backers raised €130 of €2550
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Open
CITIZENS BE AWARE: Why did the State move away from the grassroots model of local community advice services?
Ireland
Voluntary community information centres began popping up in Ireland from the late 1960s to offer citizens information on a broad range of public services, including housing, social welfare and financial advice.
6 Backers raised €105 of €2080
 Learn More 
Open
NEXT OF KIN: Is the State failing to support older people providing full time care for their grandkids?
Ireland
Under Irish law, grandparents may foster their grandkids where parents are unable to provide an appropriate level of care.
3 Backers raised €100 of €3490
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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
 Read Now 
Open
SOAKED UP: Are lax rules on water extraction affecting our local water supplies?
Ireland
Water is taken from our rivers, lakes and groundwater in large volumes by the private sector, including water bottling companies and agri-food companies, and recreational businesses such as golf clubs.
20 Backers raised €565 of €2640
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Open
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 €2630
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Open
FUELLED BY NATURE: Will the rise in bioenergy have a negative impact on our climate ambitions?
Ireland
Bioenergy - from woody biomass, energy crops like willow, grasslands and farm waste - is already the main source of renewable energy in the EU. In Ireland, however, it currently makes up less than 5% of Ireland’s energy profile.
8 Backers raised €230 of €2475
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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
 Read Now 
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
 Read Now 
Open
WASTE NOT: Are our supermarkets doing enough to reduce food waste?
Ireland
In Ireland, over 1 million tonnes of food is estimated to be wasted annually, costing Irish households, businesses and the planet, with food waste estimated to be responsible for 10% of global emissions.
6 Backers raised €145 of €1410
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Open
DAY IN DAY OUT: What has the impact of reduced day services been on people with disabilities?
Ireland
Day services for people with disabilities were badly hit by the pandemic, by first closing their doors for a number of months, and then reopening at a reduced capacity.
2 Backers raised €35 of €1940
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Open
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.
5 Backers raised €100 of €1950
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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
 Read Now 
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
 Read Now 
Open
FOUL PLAY: Why does dog faeces continue to litter our streets and parks?
Ireland
The problem of dog fouling in Dublin grew so bad that local authorities launched a hotline in 2013 to report cases in a bid to get people to clean up after their animals.
9 Backers raised €180 of €1510
 Learn More 
Open
POSTCARDS OFFER: Give the gift of investigative journalism
Ireland
Have you enjoyed our award-winning reporting? This is your chance to share the gift of investigative journalism - and receive a set of limited edition Noteworthy postcards.
20 Backers raised €543 of €5000
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Open
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.
8 Backers raised €170 of €2170
 Learn More 
Open
IN A FIX - Why are people still being exposed to mould, sewage and pests in local authority housing?
Ireland
Social housing in Ireland was found in violation of human rights in 2017 by the European Committee of Social Rights due to the presence of sewage, contaminated water, dampness and persistent mould.
2 Backers raised €70 of €2390
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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
 Read Now 
Open
IN LIMBO: Why are people left in hospitals and nursing homes instead of rehab?
Ireland
Though the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) moved into a new building in 2020, spinal cord and brain injury survivors remain on long waiting lists for specialist rehabilitation.
5 Backers raised €160 of €1730
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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
 Read Now 
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
 Read Now 
Open
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 2021, 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.
45 Backers raised €1105 of €2600
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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 
Nearly Funded
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”.
55 Backers raised €1713 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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Open
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 €2290
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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
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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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Open
ASSESSING AUTISM: Why is the wait time for ASD assessments over a year longer than legally required?
Ireland
Research shows that early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) leading to early interventions and treatment can have major long-term positive effects on symptoms and later skills.
27 Backers raised €675 of €2100
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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
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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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