The Government is under fire amid confusion over who will bear the additional costs of directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

House prices are now 59% higher than at the lowest point of the economic crash.

An increase in foreign students enrolling as a result of Brexit is said to be a factor.

Exceptional costs totalling €1.73m resulted in a widening of pre-tax losses at Killarney-based hotel operator the Gleneagle Group last year, newly-filed accounts show.

Analysis of Galway GAA’s accounts this decade show how much county board executive costs escalated over the years.

The findings are part of the Early Years Sector Profile Report 2017/2018, a survey of 4,000 childcare services nationwide.

That is an increase of more than €350 from 2017.

It is believed a no-deal Brexit could cost the average Irish household between €900 and €1,400 a year.

Housing, water and fuel costs account for almost a quarter of Irish households' total expenditure, new data shows.

A strong global economy and rising oil prices are expected to push up the cost of air travel in 2019, with fares seen rising 2.6% and hotel rates up 3.7%, although there are downside risks from a trade war, according to an industry forecast.

Electric Ireland has announced it is putting energy prices up by 6%.

Dublin’s emergence as the most expensive eurozone city in which to work for foreign nationals should be treated as “a wake up call” and “warning sign” to the Government regarding Ireland’s future economic wellbeing, an economist has warned.

On any dairy farm, the two biggest drivers of electricity usage are heating and cooling costs.

AN OECD report shows that the pay advantage Irish college graduates enjoy over workers without third-level qualifications is greater than in most developed countries. It will reopen the debate around how we fund third-level education.

On average, it’s €355 for a child starting school — that’s more than €1,000 if you have three children, writes Fergus Finlay.

One in four parents will be forced to deny their children basic school items in September.

An income-linked system of loans for third level education is up for discussion later today.

Michael Clifford reports on the increasing nervousness among residents of buildings constructed during the boom years that the ‘light touch’ regulations of the time have left their lives in danger

OUR hit-and-miss, two-tier health system has been at the very centre of public debate and frustration for decades. 

Parents are facing costs of nearly €800 to send their child to secondary school according to a survey.

Almost three quarters of third level students fear they will have to drop out of college because of the costs.

SABMiller, the brewer that is due to be bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev later this year, reported a decline in full-year profit as it was saddled with charges related to some African operations and costs associated with the takeover.

Electric Ireland has said it is reducing costs for 1.2m residential customers.

Expansion costs drove the Irish business of entertainment retail firm HMV into the red last year, as it recorded a pre-tax loss of €144,000.

British aerospace and industrial power engineering company Rolls-Royce reiterated its forecast for 2016 but said it expected the bulk of profits would only come through in the second half of the year, worrying investors.

A plan is being examined to turn off overhead lights on motorways earlier in the mornings to try and cut costs.

Ongoing increases in domestic costs — such as wages, utility prices, property and business services — pose a large threat to the country’s sustainable recovery, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has warned.

Pfizer will need to reduce the cost of producing some of its core products by up to 20% and stay extremely focused on competitiveness in the coming years, according to the head of its Cork operations.

Ferry and freight services business Irish Continental Group (ICG) expects to see continued earnings and revenue growth this year on the back of low fuel prices, but will also see revenues suffer slightly due to the current weakening in sterling.

The country’s only indigenous insurer FBD has warned of further premium rises across its business this year after an “exceptionally difficult” 2015 saw it record an €85m pre-tax loss.

RBS is committed to retaining Ulster Bank operations in the Republic, but the round of cost-cutting will continue relentlessly, Ulster Bank has said.

A campaign group aiming to propel the high costs of mortgage rates up the election agenda was launched yesterday. It immediately won the broad support of two of the main opposition parties.

Sinn Féin is proposing to cap the cost of childcare at €180 per week per child.

Spare a thought for the poor harassed county board treasurer at this time of year.

Ryanair has expressed confidence that plans for a second main runway at Dublin Airport will become a reality, but has warned its costs should not exceed the planned €250m.

Britain’s postal service, the Royal Mail yesterday said it was on track to meet its cost reduction target and delivered more parcels than expected in the UK over the Christmas period, easing concerns over the intense competition facing the former monopoly.

Large businesses could cut costs by 70% through better technology, a director at Google has said.