The Irish Dental Association has agreed to recommend Government proposals on the PRSI-funded Dental Benefit Scheme to a ballot of its 850 members.

HOUSE HUNTERS borrowed €1.2bn in home loans in December, figures from the Central Bank revealed yesterday.

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs Mary Coughlan has invited the Irish Dental Association to talks next week in an effort to resolve the long-running dispute over the Dental Benefit Scheme.

CONSUMERS have racked up several thousands of euro in debts due to massive Christmas shopping sprees, financial experts said yesterday.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan, has expressed her support for the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, following criticism of his handling of the Ray Burke scandal.

Mary Coughlan, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs has said she is willing to appoint an independent arbitrator to seek a solution to the Government’s dispute with dentists.

The Labour Party has urged Mary Coughlan, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, to meet with the Irish Dentists Association immediately to seek a resolution to their dispute.

The Government has revealed that it expects to pay almost €15m in back-to-school payments this summer to help parents living on social welfare and health board payments.

The rent allowance scheme for successor tenants is to be extended on July 26 next.

The Government is to establish a long-term study of children growing up in Ireland in an effort to gain a greater understanding of children’s development.

The number of people signing on the Live Register is continuing to rise.

Unemployment figures released today have realised the worst fears of the country's workforce.

The increase in child benefit, announced in the last Budget, is coming into effect this week.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs has backed the Taoiseach in the controversy over the appearance of the name of his partner, Celia Larkin, on an official Government invite to a function in honour of Cardinal Connell.

Social welfare requirements for the north Louth area should be kept under constant review to meet any needs emerging as a result of the foot-and-mouth crisis, according to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.

Concern has been expressed by the Labour Party that Ireland will fail to meet an EU deadline to submit its anti-poverty action plan.

There are calls for the Fine Gael leader to declare when he first knew of a $50,000 donation from the Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs said the Fine Gael leader should declare exactly when he was made aware of the $50,000 donation from Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor.

People in receipt of one-parent family payments will be allowed to retain up to 50% of any maintenance received from early this year, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs has announced.