Daft Property - Irish Property News

25pc afraid of losing jobs as confidence hits a record low... MORE than a quarter of workers fear that they are about to lose their jobs, while one in five thinks their personal financial circumstances will worsen in the next year. But the number of people who fear redundancy in the private sector is likely to be even higher as the survey did not distinguish between public and private sector workers. The Ipsos Mori poll, seen exclusively by the Irish Independent, reveals that consumers' confidence in their personal finances is at its lowest level since the survey was first conducted in 1999. Recessionary times are striking fear into workers with more than a quarter of workers afraid that they are about to lose their jobs. Younger people are more insecure about their jobs than older workers, the survey conducted among 1,500 people between July and September shows. More than a third of those aged between 16 and 24 are concerned about the possibility of being made redundant. Almost th...

We're getting back to basics in these recessionary times... ANYONE WHO, like me, has only recently learned to appreciate the wonders of Lidl will not be surprised by Ulster Bank's recent revelation that spending took the biggest nosedive since 1983 in the first three quarters of this year and Irish consumers continue to spend cautiously in the run up to Christmas. There was a time when the stark lighting, the anaemic decor (would a cheery sunburst yellow colour scheme be out of the question Mr Lidl?) and that curiously earthy smell once you hit the door (what is that?) was enough to have some of us running to the more sweet smelling Superquinn for cover. But our priorities are changing and we're discovering that rampant parsimony has its thrills. The psyche of a nation, formed over 10 years of profligate spending, is under review and it's not just property we're holding back on, but household goods, which Ulster Bank attributes to the weakness in the housing market,...

The Irish Times has a report from Stephen Collins, (Political Editor,)on the deteriorating state of Ireland's finances... "Tax Returns expected to show tax shortfall of at least €1.5bn... THE SCALE of the financial crisis facing the country will become clear today with the publication of the exchequer returns, which are expected to show a dramatic shortfall of at least €1.5 billion in tax revenues for the first half of the year. The Cabinet discussed the rapidly deteriorating financial situation yesterday, but final decisions on the strategy to deal with the issue will not be taken until next week's Cabinet meeting after Ministers have considered the official figures. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, confirmed in the Dáil yesterday that tax revenues for the first six months were down but he said exact figures would not be available until today. He added that the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan had briefed the Government in general terms about the figures and would be issuing...