The National Childcare Scheme’s (NCS) use of the public services card (PSC) as the sole means by which parents can access its subsidies is highly discriminatory” and will violate the rights of those living in poverty, according to an advocacy group.

Two cheers for the National Transport Authority, city council, and operators An Rothar Nua for the outstanding success of the Coca Cola Zero bike sharing scheme in Cork.

Business groups have largely welcomed the Government’s €300m Brexit loan fund but have cautioned the available funds may dry up quickly.

The Government has received just six applications for funding from communities who want to install a CCTV scheme in their local area, despite €3m being set aside to fund the cameras.

Six institutes of technology have been well placed in a world ranking of top third-level science and technology colleges.

Developers will be charged as low as 4% interest on state loans to construct houses under the new Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) scheme.

The Government’s JobsPlus scheme could be retooled to benefit older long-term unemployed people, with a report finding the group was underrepresented and less likely to succeed in staying off the Live Register.

Pension firms have welcomed government moves to introduce a new auto-enrolment scheme for all workers.

Teachers have described as “a well-kept secret” a scheme that allows schools to obtain asthma inhalers for emergencies.

The Government’s ‘help-to-buy’ scheme has contributed to a €24,000 surge in house prices in three months, according to a new report.

Not one of the 205 people taken on by Cork County Council through the government’s Gateway scheme got permanent employment with the local authority.

An elderly couple, inseparable during 63 years of marriage, wept yesterday as they pleaded to be reunited after being split up by red tape governing the Fair Deal nursing home scheme.

Thousands of middle-income families won’t get promised childcare supports because the Government “botched” the scheme’s rollout, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Sustainable transport campaigners have called for a major extension to one of the country’s most successful public bike schemes.

The deadline is being extended for submissions on a €140m flood relief scheme for Cork.

Househunters can begin applying for the help-to-buy scheme from today.

A new scheme to help six major arts projects is to be announced today by Arts Minister Heather Humphreys.

Approval is expected at cabinet today of a €15m scheme to help those in mortgage arrears.

Glanbia Co-op has launched a €55m scheme that will provide interest-free cash to its suppliers when milk and grain prices are weak.

The availability of a fully resourced National Reserve in 2016, and subsequent years is essential for young farmers, according to Macra na Feirme president Sean Finan.

More defined benefit pension schemes are likely to close in the coming year as figures show mounting pension deficits at some of the biggest firms in the country.

The body that represents the largest corporate pension funds and pension investment managers has said the value of savings held in pension schemes is now higher than before the crash, despite the Government extracting an estimated €2.5bn in levies over the last four years.

Twenty-five new apprenticeships are being launched today, in new areas such as financial services, the travel industry and cheffing.

A scheme that plans to pump €10m into county-level start-ups aims to provide funds for locals to create local jobs.