The chief executive of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has apologised for the handling of a "botched" review of how special needs assistants are allocated which causes uproar among parents and educators. John Kearney told the Oireachtas committee on education: "The NCSE duly notes and apologises for any and all upset and uncertainty caused to children, parents, special needs assistance and schooling communities in recent weeks. In February, a review of how special needs assistants are allocated at schools across Ireland was paused after it caused concern and outrage among parents, teachers and SNAs. Speaking about how Special Educational Needs Organisers (Senos) working for her organisation assess schools' needs, Ms Walsh said: "We don't allocate individual SNAs to individual children. We allocate to a school, so there's always that capacity within a school to be able to move SNA posts around.

A Thai masseuse is locked in a bitter court fight after £434,000 of her late husband's money 'mistakenly' ended up in his ex-wife's bank account. Mr Gold, who was previously a 'rising star' with top City law firm Field Fisher, died without making a will. But a bitter court dispute was triggered after £434,134 'mistakenly' ended up in the account of 49-year-old Mrs Gomez. It led masseuse Mrs Harte to claim that her dead husband's ex-wife had gone on to 'dissipate and misappropriate' the cash. In her own statement, Mrs Gomez said: 'It is not disputed that I received the sum of circa £435,000.

All 75 countries on UK Foreign Office 'do not travel' listThe Iran war is ragingView Image Manchester AirportCertain parts of the world have been designated as no-travel zones amid the Middle East conflict. The Foreign Office has added new locations to its list of countries with alerts affecting Brits planning trips abroad, with dozens impacted by the ongoing war. As of March 4, 2026, dozens of countries have travel advisories from the Foreign Office, including new zones in the Middle East. ‌Political conflicts, natural disasters and safety concerns are among the reasons the UK Foreign Office will recommend British nationals to steer clear of certain destinations. Below is a full list of 75 countries worldwide that currently carry a warning (as of March 4).

An open call for farmer safety, health and well-being projects has been launched by the department. Announcing the call, minister Healy-Rae said: “Building on the success of the Open Calls in 2024 and 2025, this initiative will support projects in 2026 to improve the safety, health and well-being of our farming community. The Open Call projects are being funded from the department’s dedicated farm safety budget. For farmers' physical health, areas being addressed areFarmers' physical health checks;Hearing and sight checks. Under farmers' mental health and well-being, the department hopes to fund projects on mental health checks, as well as looking to support projects supporting older farmers.

Michael Carrick's response to Paul Scholes ‘guilty’ comment after latest Man Utd attackPaul Scholes has been critical of former team-mate Michael Carrick in a savage Instagram post off the back of Manchester United's disappointing defeat at NewcastleView 2 Images Michael Carrick has been criticised by Paul Scholes following Man Utd's loss against Newcastle. The Old Trafford legend seemed to aim a scathing swipe at former colleague and United manager Michael Carrick in ruthless style. ‌Paul Scholes has picked six managers over Michael Carrick to become Man Utd boss READ MORE :FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! View 2 Images Paul Scholes has openely criticised former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick. (Image: Matthew Peters, Manchester United via Getty Images)Assuming an interim position to guide the team after Solskjaer's departure, Carrick was questioned about Scholes' remarks.

The Revenue Commissioners have collected €27m in taxes relating to the misclassification of workers as self-employed since the opening of a voluntary disclosure process last year. Revenue chair Niall Cody is set to tell the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday that 280 submissions were made via the process relating to more than 6,600 employees, with “gross tax adjustments of €26.7m” processed as a result. Mr Cody will tell the committee that while the “tax risks associated with misclassification are not new”, the Supreme Court’s Karshan judgement of October 2023 means that “the landscape has changed for businesses”. Karshan, otherwise known as the Domino’s Pizza drivers case, saw the court rule in favour of Revenue, which asserted that those workers were full employees of the company as opposed to self-employed contractors. Estimates of the financial impact of on the economy vary, though some sources have speculated that hundreds of millions of euros in uncollected taxes are lost each year.

But this season, chocolate brown is enjoying a major resurgence - and even royalty is embracing the trend. Catherine, Princess of Wales, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have all stepped out in the rich, warming shade in recent months. Chocolate brown pairs effortlessly with wardrobe staples - from black shoes to gold jewellery - yet works just as well alongside brighter pops of colour. Sophie's latest chocolate brown look might just be her best yet. Our edit of similar chocolate brown styles includes chic options from Asos, Mango, Whistles and Reiss, suitable for any occasion, from a day at the office to a glamorous party.

Keir Starmer has updated the nation on the situation in the Middle East at a press conference from Downing Street. The Prime Minister revealed four Typhoon fighter jets will be sent to Qatar to bolster the region's defences and confirmed the first evacuation flight of British nationals had took off from Muscat, Oman, in the last few minutes. He stressed he was focused on "providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest" amid the war in the Middle East. They can hardly believe that, yet again, we are seeing missiles and drones falling and civilians in the firing line across the region. He also insisted the UK had been preparing for the possibility of conflict "long before" it began with Israeli and US strikes.

A 57-acre farm featured here on February 16 was sold at auction on Friday, February 27, at the Clubhouse Hotel, Kilkenny. The property was at Muckalee, Ballyfoyle, 7km south of Castlecomer and 12km north of Kilkenny City. “He was possibly looking to do up the bungalow and add a bit of value to the land. The under-bidder was similar, and then there were a couple of local farmers who also bid on the farm. "It was a good, lively auction, making €15,000 per acre [exceeding the pre-auction guide of €12,000-€13,000/acre]... the land needed a bit of work, so we were quite happy with the price.”

Paul Scholes has picked six managers over Michael Carrick to become Man Utd bossMichael Carrick is the interim Manchester United boss, but Paul Scholes has other ideas on who should get the job permanentlyView 3 Images Paul Scholes prefers several other managers to Michael Carrick (Image: YouTube/The Good, the Bad and the Football Podcast)Paul Scholes had already identified six managers he'd like to see take the reins at Manchester United before aiming a dig at Michael Carrick. ‌Paul Scholes rips into Man Utd aces with Michael Carrick jibe minutes after Newcastle loss READ MORE :Scholes said: "The perfect one out there – I say perfect – Ancelotti is still out there. Though his podcast co-host Nicky Butt doubted Emery would leave Villa Park for United, Scholes insisted the Spaniard could be tempted by the prestige of Old Trafford. ‌View 3 Images He holds Carlo Ancelotti in high regard (Image: Getty)Yet the United legend's first choice was England boss Thomas Tuchel. Scholes explained: "This is one of the very biggest clubs in the world, so they should have the very best in class.

And she warned that failure to tackle small boats could pave the way for a Nigel Farage "nightmare". ‌New safe and legal routes for refugees announcedMs Mahmood announced new safe and legal routes for refugees would be part of her proposals. Campaigners have long argued that expanding such routes would create an alternative to dangerous small boat crossings. She says Labour values are united by values of a "fairness and a recognition" in this country", equality and enduring decency and tolerance. She hits out at "the fairy tale of open borders" of the Greens and the "nightmare of Nigel Farage pulling up the drawbridge and shutting out the world".

Single-use vapes: 'We must ensure the ban is not rendered ineffective on day one,' Pádraig Rice told the DáilThe Government must ensure its definition of single-use vapes is watertight because of concerns it could be invalid, the Dáil has heard. Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice cautioned against using a definition similar to legislation in the UK because of reports manufacturers and suppliers were exploiting a loophole in the law there. He was speaking during a debate on the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill which bans the sale of disposable single-use vapes. Rice, who is chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, said he was hearing reports from the “vaping lobby” that the industry in the UK was “getting around the definition”. It would render single-use vapes that included fake chargeable ports, legal.

A historic Roman hamlet filled with Grade II listed homes is in danger of being 'industrialised' by the planned introduction of a solar farm with 'up to 100,000 panels'. Potters Crouch, a designated conservation area in Hertfordshire, is at risk of being 'completely wrecked' and turned into an 'island surrounded by a sea of solar panels' by a 107-hectare development site on open countryside. The 600-year-old hamlet, which comprises just 10 houses and a pub, is a mile from the Roman Britain city of Verulamium. His wife Gilly Morris, a retired specialist education support worker, told the Daily Mail: 'It will be horrendous if the solar farm goes through. 'It will be a very unpleasant view - the area is designated an area of conservation and of outstanding natural beauty.

Marcus Rashford told there's 'something wrong' as stinging attack launchedMarcus Rashford is currently thriving on loan at Barcelona, but that hasn't stopped Manchester United great Bryan Robson from taking aim at the forwardView 2 Images Marcus Rashford in action for Barcelona against Villarreal (Image: ( Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images))Marcus Rashford has been told there must be something wrong if he can’t enjoy his football at Manchester United. Rashford is currently thriving at Barcelona after falling out of favour at United last season. “Marcus Rashford, as a player, I can’t understand it,” he told Boyle Sports. Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page‌“If you can’t enjoy your football at Manchester United, there’s something wrong with you. I’m just not quite sure whether I'd bring Marcus back in just because the lads could go, 'Well, what about his attitude?'

Event to celebrate Galway’s inspiring businesswomenPrevious Next Image 1 of 1 RUTH Mackey is guest speaker. Fintan Clarke Coalesce LtdTHE Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Galway and Network Ireland Galway will collaborate to host a celebration of Galway businesswomen in the Salthill Hotel on Friday, March 6. The event, taking place to mark International Women’s Day, will form part of LEO Galway’s schedule of events for Local Enterprise Week (LEW). Stephanie Colombani, Senior Enterprise Development Officer at LEO Galway, said attendees can look forward to an engaging event. “LEO Galway and Network Galway are coming together to celebrate International Women’s Day with what promises to be an uplifting and energising event.