The timeframe for the establishment of technological universities remains uncertain as Education Minister Richard Bruton prepares to discuss concerns of staff and others about the plans.

Pensioners, carers, the disabled and those on long-term welfare will be among those who receive the partially reinstated Christmas bonus in the next fortnight.

A ministerial-appointed troubleshooter has failed to broker agreement between Carlow and Waterford institutes of technology on merging, to assist a possible creation of a university in the south-east.

You might normally find money under a mattress but it’s the materials in the mattress itself which have helped get a new recycling business off the ground.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn insisted “exacting standards” would need to be shown before the any “world class” technological universities came into being.

THE Tus Initiative, which had promised up to 200 jobs for out-of-work GAA players, has been put on ice as a result of the changeover at Leinster House.