Free house!

Yay.

In Leitrim.

Oh.

Via Irish Examiner:

The Residential Buildings Report for the fourth quarter of 2021 was published today by GeoDirectory, and prepared by EY.

The number of vacant properties in Q4 of 2021 represented 4.4% of the national housing stock, a marginal decrease on last year.

The counties with the highest rates of vacant properties were Leitrim (13.3%), Mayo (11.9%) and Roscommon (11.6%). Dublin had the lowest vacancy rate with 1.4%, followed by Kildare (2.1%), Waterford and Louth (both 2.8%).

Furthermore, there were 22,096 residences classed as derelict in 202…

County by County: Where Ireland’s vacant properties are (Irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

….Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said:

“These figures provide further evidence that the government’s housing policy is failing. The fact that Ireland has more than 9,000 people who are homeless, and more than 90,000 homes that are vacant, is a damning indictment of the government.

“Almost one in 20 homes across the state are empty. This is a conservative estimate. On the night of the last census in 2016, there were 316,605 empty homes in Ireland. More than 180,000 of these showed no sign of use in the previous three months.

“The government is doing nothing about this. They are sitting on their hands. Using the existing building is the most environmentally sustainable approach. It is also the most socially sustainable approach.

“The government must urgently introduce a tax on vacant buildings; use Compulsory Purchase Orders to turn vacant houses into homes; and introduce Compulsory Sale Orders to get some of these properties into use. This crisis will not solve itself – the government must take action.”

RollingNews

In case you missed it.

Via Sunday Express:

More than thirty doctors, scientists and MP’s have signed a joint letter to the government’s vaccine watchdog urging it to “reassess” the Covid vaccine rollout for healthy 12-15-year-olds following new data showing potentially serious harms of the jab are likely to outweigh any potential benefits.

The letter urges the government to ‘reassess’ the Covid vaccine rollout for healthy 12-15 year olds.

The letter has been signed by 12 scientists, medical experts and 21 peers and MPs including the former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, a former government vaccine advisor, paediatricians and experts in infectious disease as well as 21 politicians and peers.

It argues the risk benefit calculations made by the JCVI and the Chief Medical Officer were based on “less than complete data on both the harms and the benefits of vaccinating children compared to the evidence now available.”

It cites new evidence showing the risk of myocarditis in young men and boys is up to 14 times higher after vaccination than after infection.

And it states that given the high level of naturally acquired immunity from infection as well as the replacement of the Delta variant by milder Omicron, “it’s crucial that, if we are to proceed with the mass double vaccination of healthy children, we are absolutely certain this policy will do more good than harm.”

Signatory Professor Brent Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Community Child Health, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said:

“The latest CDC data reports elevated rates of post-vaccination myocarditis for boys aged 12-15, 2.5-24 times higher in the seven days after the first dose and 24-228 times higher in the seven days after the second dose.

“So, whilst the absolute risks are still low they cannot be described as trivial and the absolute risk from Covid-19 to healthy children is negligible. Additionally, the vaccines stop neither infection nor transmission and many children will have broad and robust natural immunity following infection.

“I’m afraid the mass vaccination of healthy children is not based on sound evidence. It is time for the JCVI, the CMO and the Government to reassess all the evidence now available and alter its recommendation accordingly.”

Doctors and scientists urge caution in giving Covid jabs to ‘low risk’ children (Sunday Express)

Getty

This morning.

Was it all just a bad dream?

Via RTÉ News:

Early indications suggest that a new closing time for bars, restaurants and cultural venues could be set at midnight from the end of this month or in early February.

A further easing of restrictions would then take place at a later date when the requirement on premises would possibly be scaled back to just checking Covid passes.

More people could also be allowed to attend weddings soon, while a gradual return to the workplace might get under way at some point next month.

There are also suggestions that outdoor sports venues could return to full capacity.

While no decision has been made yet about when Government might sign-off on any planned changes, many within its ranks believe it could happen as early as Friday.

NPHET expected to recommend easing of Covid restrictions (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Last night.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) lied about a lockdown party at No. 10 during the first lockdown, his ex-aide Dominic Cummings (left) claims

Some shock allegations were made
By a former top Downing Street aide
Who thought to confide
That Johnson has lied
Quite often while plying his trade

John Moynes

Getty

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