The Housing Minister says lessons need to be learned from the death in Ennis of homeless man Josef Pavelka.

Both of the Clare properties offered for sale at the latest distressed properties auction have been purchased.

The reserve price for a two story building in Corofin, which includes a ground floor retail unit and upstairs apartment, was more than doubled as the site was sold for 63,000 euro.

Meanwhile, and even though buyers had been advised of a reserve price of up to 72,000 euro, 60,000 euro was paid for a semi-detached bungalow on the Cloughleigh Road in Ennis.

The country's been hit by a double jobs blow today.

An Ennis dormer and a North Clare takeaway are among the items for sale at at the next distressed properties auction taking place today.

Officials from the Department of Defence are in Lahinch today, to discuss the potential sale of the village's former military barracks, including a community hall.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform says significant progress has been made in talks on the Croke Park 2 deal - but there is still a way to go.

The company which runs Dromoland Castle and the former Clare Inn has reported an 18% rise in operating profits last year.

Nearly a quarter of Irish households are now jobless according to a new report out today.

Clare Bus Drivers have defended their decision to go on strike insisting they have been left with no other choice.

The head of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey is preparing to brief the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on progress made on the Croke Park 2 talks.