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Top four things you need to know - Tuesday June 29th

Tuesday, 29 June 2021 06:56

The top four things you need to know for Tuesday morning, June 29th.

The re-opening of indoor dining will be delayed by at least two weeks after a late night meeting of Ministers last night. 

It followed stark figures that were given by NPHET to the cabinet sub-committee about the Delta variant. 

Cabinet's due to meet this morning to finalise the plans, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin making an official announcement this afternoon. 

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Both the AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are to be made available for everyone, regardless of age. 

NIAC made the recommendation to government last night - the jabs had previously only been given to those over 50. 

The gap between doses of AstraZeneca is also set to be cut in half - from eight to four weeks. 

This would allow many more people in their 60s to be vaccinated faster.

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A Mental Health Care Centre in Midleton is due to close leaving 19 patients to be housed in nursing homes or reintegrate into society.

Thats according to East Cork TD Pat Buckley, who says Owencurra Centre in Midleton will be closed within the next four months forcing its patients and staff to be redeployed.

The mental health commission reported in 2020 that the centre was not fit for purpose and it is uncertain who owns the site located next to Midleton Garda Station.

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The number of mortgages approved in May 2021 is up almost 150 per cent on the same period last year. 

New figures from the Banking and Payments Federation show 4,683 mortgages were approved in May of this year, compared to 1,879 in May 2020. 

First time buyers accounted for more than half of the total approved loans, while mover purchasers accounted for over 23 per cent. 

The number approved in May is an increase of 7 per cent on the amount approved in April. 


 

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