Rising rents are one of the biggest factors in bringing the living costs associated with attending college to over €8,000, according to compilers of a student living guide.

The costs of going to college continue to rise, with rents in Dublin and transport costs contributing to slight increases on last year.

The reports that Government ministers are back-pedalling on the proposed alcohol strategy are very disappointing and I hope untrue.

Aer Lingus faces widespread disruption to its flights over the summer because of the airline’s plans to sell off its Shannon hangar and force 55 maintenance staff to take redundancy or relocate to Dublin.

UP to 1,700 staff at Bord na Móna are to be balloted for strike action over the company’s failure to give them a 3.5% pay increase.

A FORMER British Midland air hostess has failed in her bid to receive redundancy payments under Irish terms, having already accepted a package under British law.

COLLEGES are using social networking sites and smartphone applications to help new students find their feet over the coming weeks.

FALLING rents have contributed to the cost of college dropping for a second year, according to analysis at Dublin Institute of Technology.

Aer Lingus tonight revealed it will enter talks with unions and industrial trouble-shooters over its €97m cost cutting plan.

A SHORTAGE of part-time work may be affecting students’ ability to put themselves through college, despite a fall in rent and other costs.

SIPTU has reacted angrily to Aer Lingus management’s threat to implement proposed €20 million cost-cutting measures on February 24, unless both sides can reach agreement by then.

THE popularity of YouTube, Bebo and Facebook has been harnessed by one Irish college to market its third-level courses.

The craft trade unions at Aer Lingus will wait until next week to decide on what industrial action to take against the airline.

PILOTS and cabin crew at Aer Lingus are not going to join their SIPTU-represented colleagues in industrial action — yet.

HSI brings together equestrian’s breeding and sporting sectors. The former is currently regulated by the Irish Horse Board with the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (made up of 15 affiliates) governing the latter.

THE announcement on Wednesday of the setting up of the new umbrella body for equestrianism, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), received broad welcome.

A NEW umbrella body for equestrian sport, Horse Sport Ireland, is set to be chaired by former Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh.

NEW SJAI chairperson Patricia Furlong and acting SJAI director general Liz Pottie will today discuss a road plan for show jumping when they meet Irish Sports Council chief executive John Treacy.

THE chairman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), Charles Hanley, said yesterday the terms of a contract had been “agreed” with chef d’equipe designate Robert Splaine.

A TRADE union representing staff at Aer Lingus has called for an independent investigation into the alleged bullying culture at the national airline.

THE withdrawal of Cian O’Connor from the Irish team in next week’s Aachen nations cup can only be described as fate kicking us when we are down.

Bishopstown (Cork) 0-12 Stradbally (Waterford) 1-12