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Last week
27th April 2025 - 3rd May 2025
Transgender people moving to Ireland put on long waitlist for vital healthcare until assessed
The Journal Investigates spoke to transgender people who moved to Ireland and couldn’t continue the care they received abroad
Transgender people can’t continue their hormone treatment in a timely manner
National Gender Service significantly delaying people from accessing vital healthcare
People also discouraged from seeking healthcare in the UK
Transgender people turning to DIY-healthcare due to lack of trust in National Gender Service
The Journal Investigates heard from transgender people pushed into accessing healthcare outside the official channels
Transgender people are purchasing HRT drugs through online sources
Waitlist and the types of questions being asked leading to a lack of trust in NGS
Some GPs advised by NGS that they do not recommend blood tests for transgender people
‘It left me traumatised’: The barriers to accessing transgender healthcare in Ireland
The HSE has admitted that transgender healthcare is ‘limited’ and is ‘not meeting people’s full range of needs’.
Numerous people speak out about traumatic experiences of accessing trans healthcare
Trans people report being asked about pornography and their sex lives
Long wait times adding to problems with National Gender Service
Robbing a bank when no one’s looking: The most important place on Earth you've never heard of
Saya de Malha Bank is among the world’s largest seagrass fields and the planet’s most important carbon sinks.
Last month
April 2025
'Teething problems' such as insufficient heating prevalent in electric bus rollout
Series of unusual planning objections to vet practices uncovered in Dublin, Meath and Kildare
“I came as close as I’ve ever come to having a nervous breakdown,” one vet said about the planning objections.
The Journal Investigates reveals that possibly unfounded objections led to financial losses and delayed businesses from opening
Objections were submitted by people living hundreds of kilometres away
Locations were masked by some who used mailbox addresses
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Is porn driving a rise in youth sexual violence?
18m
Almost all youths accused of sexual crimes rejected from gardaí intervention programme
92% of 12-18 year olds accused of sex crimes were found unsuitable for prosecution alternative.
Over 300 over youths investigated by gardaí for sex crimes
Experts warn online porn access influencing criminal behaviour in children
Government urged to pass stricter legislation to combat harm
Surge in children receiving treatment for sexually harmful and abusive behaviour
Referrals to a Tusla-led intervention programme have increased so much it has rolled out more services around Ireland.
Tusla sees a 40% increase in demand for child intervention services
Government urged to act as ‘younger and younger’ children exposed to X-rated content
Legislative action needed urgently to tackle harmful content
'I'll never forgive my country': Women on the trauma of having to travel to UK for terminations
“We brought our baby’s body back in our carry-on luggage, surrounded by frozen vegetables,” one woman told us.
Women can have abortions in Ireland for any reason up to 12 weeks gestation
Many still travel abroad to access abortion services for a variety of reasons
Some struggled to book appointments and bring their baby's remains home
'The most vulnerable are still being exported': Why and how women have to travel for abortions
Hundreds of women travel from Ireland to the UK every year for terminations.
Over 5,000 women in Europe have to travel abroad for abortions each year
Legal, bureaucratic and social obstacles are still faced by women, even if they live in countries where abortion is legalised.
At least 5,860 European women crossed borders for abortions in 2023
Routes of travel are shaped by the countries’ abortion laws and geographic proximity
The Netherlands — where termination is allowed up to 24 weeks — was the most frequent destination
Labour room built for less medicalised births cost €100,000 but rarely used
The suite in Sligo University Hospital is often called ‘the good sitting room’ by frustrated mothers and birth workers.
The Suaimhneas Room is the only delivery suite in the hospital that complies with modern infrastructure guidelines
Almost 40 women told The Journal Investigates about how this impacted them
Midwife: 'They’re not facilitating what the women need'
Opinion: 'Not only could he not get an appointment, he couldn't get a GP to take him on'
Anonymous
March
March 2025
Over €13m spent by OPW on controversial Cork flood defence scheme before construction begins
A bitter public dispute and several redesigns have stalled progress and left the city susceptible to flooding.
Total spent so far likely to be close to €17 million
Final design still not decided by the OPW
Construction not expected to begin until mid-2027
​Powering through and praying: Our readers' stories about the GP crisis in Ireland
We asked our readers to share their experience of accessing family doctors across the country. Here’s what we heard back.
Many were forced to resort to already overcrowded emergency departments
This follows our investigation exposing a worsening crisis as a surge in population hasn't been matched with a proportional increase in GPs
The Journal and The Journal Investigates shortlisted for the Mary Raftery Prize
Ireland already has some medical deserts - and it’s been getting worse
A surge in population hasn’t been matched with an increase in GPs.
Ireland is one of few EU countries where the patient load of GPs has grown
The Journal Investigates reports that this is exacerbating the primary care crisis
Expert: "Over a protracted period... the health of the population will be eroded"
Thousands miss out on compensation from Irish Water complaints process
Irish Water initially refused to say how many customers got compensation, saying it ‘could lead to an increase in the number of complaints’.
The Journal Investigates reports that €30 can be claimed if plans to resolve issues aren't provided within certain timeframes
People who complain through TDs and councillors aren't entitled to the payment
But many who complain directly to Uisce Éireann say they get nowhere
'Lack of supports' leads to more students given reduced school hours
These ‘exceptional’ arrangements disproportionately affect Traveller and Roma children as well as students with special educational needs.
The number of students moved to reduced school days has increased by over 20%
Expert: "Very often, the reality is it’s suspension by another name."
February
February 2025
Government to choose future offshore wind farm locations to 'protect biodiversity'
Who controls Ireland's offshore wind? Spoiler: Not Irish companies
Big oil, governments and one of Europe’s largest polluters are among the developers of planned projects off our coast.
Half of the offshore wind projects are backed by fossil fuel companies
EU governments also investing in Irish wind
Some investments labelled as ‘greenwashing’
Analysis: Irish vape users are being failed in the face of illegal products
Maria Delaney
What has a new investigation uncovered about vaping in Ireland?
Tobacco company sent legal letters to Department of Health over vaping consultation
PJ Carroll raised concerns over the scope and nature of the review which looked at stricter vaping regulations.
January
January 2025
Over 64 tonnes of illegal vapes stopped from entering Irish market since 2023
The significant seizures took place at Irish air and sea ports with retail experts blaming criminal gangs for the surge.
Multiple enforcement actions taken by HSE
Black and ‘grey’ market operating in Ireland
Retailers want more action against criminal trade
Undercover investigation reveals scale of Ireland's illicit vape market
Over 80% of the shops visited by The Journal Investigates sold the team a disposable vape that breached regulations.
Our investigative team went undercover and bought vapes across the capital
Two products contained multiple times the legal amount of e-liquid
Majority of vapes purchased by undercover team lacked proper health warnings
A love-hate relationship: Ireland’s rhododendron problem
Did you know you can buy invasive plants in garden centres?
Invasive species are ‘destroying ecosystems’ in Killarney National Park
Fight against invasive plants costing councils millions and may never end
Invasive species are destroying the environment and cost local authorities over €8.5 million in just four years.
They are are still proliferating in many parts of the country despite this cost
Controlling the spread of Japanese knotweed was the top driver of spending
Expert: 'Invasive species are the second biggest driver of biodiversity loss on the planet'
Lost to Violence: The 37 women killed in Ireland in the last five years
The Journal Investigates shines a spotlight on the women lost to violence in Ireland since 2020.
Where do your vapes come from?
Irish tobacco companies look to vaping to safeguard bumper profits as cigarette sales fall
The Journal Investigates examines the ‘infiltration’ of the vaping industry in Ireland by ‘Big Tobacco’.
Tobacco companies have said their aim for vaping products is to ‘actively migrate adult smokers’
Several Irish vaping companies also recorded strong profit increases in their latest accounts
Some vaping firms are concerned about the association between their business and smoking
Last year
2024
How you helped our investigative team make an impact this year
Glen of Imaal explosion: Incoming TDs will meet with survivors
Survivors of the Glen of Imaal explosion want an apology from the State.
What happens now? Data centres being built outside Ireland may be better for the environment
The Journal Investigates finds that renewable energy in other EU countries can offer a greener solution to Ireland’s ‘dirty’ data centres.
Community group who saved road from coastal erosion urges State to reduce fossil fuel use
How many homes are at risk from coastal erosion in Ireland?
Number of homes at risk of falling into sea rises by 173% in five years
Internal government document warns coastal erosion has severely escalated on Ireland’s coasts since 2017, The Journal Investigates can reveal.
Thousands of homes will be lost to coastal change
Managed retreat will be only option in areas
Councils still building on erosion hotspots