The Peter McVerry Trust has received a €100,000 donation to help it refurbish a small apartment block in Dublin's south inner city.

French building materials group Saint Gobain is tipped to boost its Irish presence through a takeover of Tubs and Tiles owner, BHT Group.

Glassmaker Pilkington today confirmed it had received a takeover approach thought to be worth up to £2bn (€2.9bn).