Wildlife crime in Ireland is on the increase and deer are at huge risk, particularly in counties like Kerry, Tipperary and Wicklow, the Irish Deer Commission has said.

Artists and musicians out of paid work will be able to claim the dole for up to a year without having to supplement their income with casual work.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht is not aware of any expert reports which indicate a national decline in the population of hares, Minister Josepha Madigan told the Dáil.

A Government department has been accused of “the most appalling waste of public funds” after it was criticised for ploughing more than €8m into an arts cinema paying rent of just €1 a year for the next 25 years.