Noteworthy

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LIFE AND DEATH: Are lives at risk from ambulance delays?

Regional

Long response times and delays at emergency departments are ongoing issues with the ambulance service, with the longest delays occurring in rural Ireland.

3 Backers raised €35 of €2780

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.

14 Backers raised €1005 of €1940

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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