Posts by splash

New figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) show that first-time buyer mortgage approvals hit a record high last November. BPFI said that first-time buyer volumes rose to 31,049 in the 12 months ending November 2024, while the value of these approvals was almost €9.5 billion. A total of 4,400 mortgages were approved in…

The share of electricity in Ireland supplied by wind fell during 2024 due to grid constraints, an energy company has said. Wind Energy Ireland said that despite wind supplying nearly a third of all electricity to the island of Ireland last year, the share of electricity provided by wind was down by 3% compared to…

First-time buyers are taking on more debt in proportion to their incomes than purchasers in the UK for the first time since the Celtic Tiger, according to a report by property website MyHome.ie in association with Bank of Ireland. The average mortgage loan for a house purchase has also exceeded €300,000 for the first time…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the country’s unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in December, from 4.1% a month earlier. The CSO said that on an annual basis, the unemployment rate of 4.2% is down from 4.5% in December 2023. Today’s figures show that the monthly jobless rate for men in December…

The estimated annual salary of a stay-at-home parent has been calculated to be €57,140, according to new research. The analysis was carried out by pension and life insurance provider Royal London Ireland. The salary figure for a stay-at-home parent is up from an estimated €54,590 in 2023 and €40,560 in 2015, when the company first…

For business owners, managing expenses and boosting profitability are constant priorities. However, one powerful tool often overlooked is tax credits. Unlike deductions, which reduce taxable income, tax credits directly lower your tax liability, offering immediate financial benefits. Unfortunately at KAAS, we know that many businesses fail to claim the credits they’re entitled to, leaving valuable…

Irish food, drink and horticulture exports were worth €17 billion last year, according to Bord Bia – a record high. The figure represents a 5% increase on 2023, according to its Exports Performance and Prospects Report for 2024/25. However Bord Bia said higher pricing was the primary driver of export value growth last year, with…

Euro zone inflation accelerated in December, an unwelcome but anticipated blip that is unlikely to derail further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank. Inflation in the 20 nations sharing the euro picked up to 2.4% last month from 2.2% in November, Eurostat said today, in line with expectations in a Reuters poll of…

The average price of a second hand home rose by 8.4% last year, almost double the rate of growth witnessed in 2023, the latest residential market review and outlook from property advisors DNG shows. The latest DNG National Price Gauge (NPG) shows the annual rate of price growth nationwide strengthened in the second half of…

In today’s fast-paced business environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly vulnerable to financial crime. One of the most significant risks is money laundering, where illicit funds are disguised as legitimate income. At KAAS, we know that understanding and implementing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices is no longer optional; it is essential for safeguarding your…