Ireland’s Permanent Defence Force had 7,756 members at the end of 2025, well short of the 11,500 the Government is aiming for. Here is how many serve, what Budget 2027 pays for, who can join and what the job pays.

Garda numbers are at the highest level in the history of the force, and the Government’s benchmark goal is 15,000. Here is how many gardaí there are, how many are joining, who can apply and what the job pays.

Central Bank of Ireland card statistics show what Irish households spend on their cards each month, how much goes online, and how December stands out. Figures run to August 2026.

The Ombudsman received 5,297 complaints about public services in 2025, the most in over 30 years. Here is what it can look into, what it cannot, and how to complain for free.

Most adults in Ireland never get a vote for the Seanad. Here is who does elect senators, how the panels and the university seats work, and what powers the Seanad has over new laws.

The Arts Council’s budget has risen by about 80% since 2020. Here is how much it gets, how grants are decided, what a typical award looks like in each art form, and what the 2026 review found.

Joining a public library in Ireland costs nothing and there are no late fines. Here is what your card gets you, from 110,000 eBooks to 600 online courses and libraries open until 10pm.

Ireland has only two World Heritage sites, and both were listed in the 1990s. Here is what they are, which four places hope to join them, how the process works and how long it takes.

The CSO’s Retail Sales Index shows shop sales jump every November and December. These charts show the size of the December peak, which shops gain most, and what the latest 2026 figures say.

Met Éireann’s monthly climate statements for January to September 2026 show eight months warmer than normal, the driest July on record and the hottest summer since 1900. The charts compare each month with the 1991 to 2020 average.