A roundup of today's other home news in brief
Big fall in cash gifts for First Communions
A SIGNIFICANT reduction in the amount of money given to First Communion children is expected this year, research has found.
Some 60,000 children taking the Catholic sacrament in coming weeks are expected to receive an average of €300 in cash gifts, a survey on behalf of EBS revealed.
The average amount that adults see as fitting for the traditional Communion gift of cash has reduced by a quarter from € 50 last year to € 37 this year, the survey of 1,000 adults by iReach found.
However, men have reduced the sum they see as suitable by 40 per cent from € 62 last year to € 38.
The number of children that were likely to save most of their Communion money was expected to increase by 50 per cent.
The majority of adults believed that cash was an appropriate Communion gift. Half of those who did not consider it suitable gave money anyway because it is tradition.
Aer Arann to start check-in changes
Aer Arann plans to start charging for checked-in luggage from April 27th on flights between Ireland and the UK and France, writes Ciarán Hancock.
The airline will charge €8/£8 for each bag for each flight for luggage checked in online from next Tuesday. Bags checked in at the airport will incur a fee of €12/£12.
Aer Arann has introduced a number of other charges. Children under the age of two will now be charged a set fare of €20 each way on all flights.
The move brings Aer Arann into line with other Irish carriers.
Mae Sexton set to declare for Labour
Former Progressive Democrats TD Mae Sexton will declare for the Labour Party early next week, writes Mary Minihan.
Ms Sexton, an Independent councillor in Longford, is expected to contest the next general election alongside sitting Labour deputy Willie Penrose. She lost her Dáil seat in 2007.
Former Independent TD for Mayo Dr Jerry Cowley’s move to Labour was announced at the party’s conference last weekend.