TheJournal.ie

This week

18th May 2025 - 24th May 2025

InvestigatesBadger cull

Over 80% of badgers culled in government TB programme found to be free from the disease

More than 8,000 badgers destroyed by DAFM in a nation-wide crackdown to eradicate bovine tuberculosis were found to be infection free following post-mortems.

Over 66,000 badgers culled in last 10 years

Concerns over ‘barbaric’ traps used to snare protected species

Over 4,000 foxes mistakenly snared in government-issued traps

Patricia Devlin

21 May

22.6k

InvestigatesTB crisis

‘It’s the next worst thing to losing a family member’: The toll of Ireland’s bovine TB crisis

As TB numbers continue to rise across Irish farms, The Journal Investigates speaks to those in the farming community carrying the huge financial and emotional loss.

Patricia Devlin

20 May

12.9k

Last week

11th May 2025 - 24th May 2025

Investigatesdeportation flights

What role do Irish companies have in the US deportation industry?

The Journal Investigates found airlines who run flights for ICE have links to several aircraft leasing companies in Ireland.

Ireland is a major worldwide hub for aircraft leasing

Two Irish companies leasing planes to Avelo and GlobalX airlines

Government has supported the Irish leasing industry through millions in investments

Conor O'Carroll

16 May

22.9k

InvestigatesImpact

The Journal Investigates work on exposing data centre emissions shortlisted for global award

12 May

7.3k

This month

May 2025

InvestigatesTransgender healthcare

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

Conor O'Carroll

2 May

9.8k

InvestigatesTransgender healthcare

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

Conor O'Carroll

1 May

14.3k

Last month

April 2025

InvestigatesTransgender healthcare

‘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

Conor O'Carroll

30 Apr

19.6k

InvestigatesSeagrass

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.

27 Apr

8.4k

Investigateselectric buses

'Teething problems' such as insufficient heating prevalent in electric bus rollout

19 Apr

17.7k

InvestigatesPlanning Submissions

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

Conor O'Carroll

19 Apr

45.8k

18m

Investigatesrestricting pornography

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

Patricia Devlin

17 Apr

22.0k

Investigatesonline pornography

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

Patricia Devlin

16 Apr

20.4k

InvestigatesExporting Abortion

'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

9 Apr

15.9k

InvestigatesExporting Abortion

'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.

8 Apr

5.3k

InvestigatesExporting Abortion

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

Órla Ryan & Maria Delaney

7 Apr

15.5k

InvestigatesBirth Choice

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'

Adriana Casserly

3 Apr

20.2k

InvestigatesThe GP Crisis

Opinion: 'Not only could he not get an appointment, he couldn't get a GP to take him on'

Anonymous

1 Apr

15.3k

March

March 2025

InvestigatesCork Floods

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

Conor O'Carroll

28 Mar

22.3k

Investigatesyour stories

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

26 Mar

18.6k

InvestigatesImpact

The Journal and The Journal Investigates shortlisted for the Mary Raftery Prize

Updated 24 Mar

7.4k

InvestigatesThe GP Crisis

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"

Maria Delaney

18 Mar

26.0k

Investigatesmuddied waters

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

Mairead Maguire

6 Mar

33.5k

InvestigatesReduced School Days

'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."

Maria Delaney

2 Mar

17.6k

February

February 2025

Investigatesoffshore wind

Government to choose future offshore wind farm locations to 'protect biodiversity'

Conor O'Carroll

4 hrs ago

10.5k

Investigatesoffshore wind

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’

Conor O'Carroll

21 Feb

22.9k

Investigatesvaping

Analysis: Irish vape users are being failed in the face of illegal products

Maria Delaney

9 Feb

7.4k

PodcastThe Explainer

What has a new investigation uncovered about vaping in Ireland?

InvestigatesVape Lobby

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.

Patricia Devlin

5 Feb

29.9k

January

January 2025

InvestigatesSeized Vapes

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

Patricia Devlin

29 Jan

12.7k

Investigatessmoke screen

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

Conor O'Carroll & Patricia Devlin

27 Jan

27.3k

InvestigatesSoil Invaders

A love-hate relationship: Ireland’s rhododendron problem

21 Jan

20.9k

InvestigatesSoil Invaders

Did you know you can buy invasive plants in garden centres?

19 Jan

19.3k

InvestigatesSoil Invaders

Invasive species are ‘destroying ecosystems’ in Killarney National Park

Anthea Lacchia

17 Jan

16.7k

InvestigatesSoil Invaders

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'

Anthea Lacchia

15 Jan

24.0k

InvestigatesViolence Against Women

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.

3 Jan

41.5k

Investigatese-cigarettes

Where do your vapes come from?

2 Jan

13.9k

Investigatessmoke screen

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

Paul O'Donoghue & Maria Delaney

2 Jan

21.2k

Last year

2024

InvestigatesThanks To You

How you helped our investigative team make an impact this year

31 Dec 2024

6.5k

InvestigatesWicklow Army Range

Glen of Imaal explosion: Incoming TDs will meet with survivors

Survivors of the Glen of Imaal explosion want an apology from the State.

Cormac Fitzgerald

30 Dec 2024

20.3k