Archive for June 2025
NAMA to return €300m more than expected to Exchequer
NAMA, the State body responsible for handling property loans from the financial crisis, plans to return more money to the taxpayer than previously expected. The organisation, which is due to be dissolved this year, plans to return €5.5 billion to the Exchequer – €300m more than previously thought. This made up of a surplus of…
Read MoreCentral Bank warns of impact of US tariffs on Irish economy
The Central Bank has warned about the effects of global uncertainty caused by US tariffs and its potential impact on the Irish economy. The Governor of the Central Bank Gabriel Makhlouf said: “There has already been some softening in consumer sentiment.” Mr Makhlouf added the bank’s engagement with industry pointed to “cautiousness amongst companies, at…
Read MoreWind farms provided 33% of Ireland’s electricity so far this year
Irish wind farms have produced 33% of the country’s electricity since the start of the year, new figures from Wind Energy Ireland show today. Wind Energy Ireland said around 22% of demand was meet by windfarms last month, up slightly when compared to May last year. It also said that wind farms had a significant…
Read MoreGrants vs Loans: Choosing the Right Funding Path for Your Business Stage
Securing funding is a crucial step for many businesses — whether you’re launching a start-up, expanding your operations, or developing a new product. But when it comes to financing your next move, one key question arises: should you pursue a grant or apply for a loan? At KAAS we believe that both options have advantages…
Read MoreWorld Bank slashes global growth forecast as trade tensions bite
The World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by 0.4 percentage point to 2.3%, saying that higher tariffs and heightened uncertainty posed a “significant headwind” for nearly all economies. In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the bank lowered its forecasts for nearly 70% of all economies – including the United States,…
Read MoreSignificant drop in people buying health insurance – HIA
There has been a significant drop-off in the number of people buying health insurance, according to new figures from the Health Insurance Authority (HIA). In its market bulletin for the first three months of 2025, the HIA said that just 7,318 people purchased a health insurance policy between January and March, compared to 13,633 in…
Read MoreData centre electricity usage increased by 10% from 2023 to 2024 – CSO
The amount of electricity used by data centres increased by 10% between 2023 and 2024, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO figures also show that last year data centres accounted for over a fifth (22%) of all metered electricity consumed in Ireland, at 6,969 Gigawatt hours (GWh). This represents a…
Read More€40m paid in Residential Zoned Land Tax, according to Revenue
Revenue has announced that approximately 1,800 Residential Zoned Land Tax returns have been filed to date, with liabilities of almost €40 million paid. RZLT applies to land which is zoned for residential use and is serviced, and which has been identified on maps published by Local Authorities as being within the scope of the tax.…
Read MoreLive register fell in May by 2.8%
The seasonally adjusted Live Register total for May 2025 was 165,700 people, down by 4,700 people or 2.8% from April 2025. New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the unadjusted Live Register total stood at 162,269 people for May 2025, of which 56% were male and 71.6% were Irish. The May Live…
Read More‘Poor budgeting’ – Government spending rising faster than expected, warns IFAC
The State’s independent financial watchdog has warned that Government spending was rising much faster than planned. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said “poor budgeting” was mostly to blame. It said current spending is up 6% so far this year, which was well above the 1.4% outlined in the Budget. It added: “This is because earlier…
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