Your top stories on Thursday: Students unprepared for Leaving Cert - study; Revolut offers savings account with 3.49% rate

Students unprepared for Leaving Cert, say principals and teachers

Many principals and teachers believe there is a disconnect between the reformed Junior Cycle and more challenging Leaving Cert which is leaving students and teachers underprepared for the demands of senior cycle.

That is one of the findings of a study on the impact of education reforms at Junior Cycle carried out by academics at University of Limerick on behalf of the State advisory body on the school curriculum.

News

Revolut offers savings account with 3.49% rate: Digital-banking app Revolut has moved to undercut traditional lenders by offering Irish customers higher yielding savings accounts.
Firefighters concerned over recording of conversations in cabs: Up to 100 firefighters working for Wicklow County County are considering making complaints about their employer under data protection legislation after it emerged the council was recording conversations in the cabs of appliances without the knowledge of the staff concerned.
How long might commuters wait for the Dart to Drogheda?: The extension of the Dart system from Malahide in Co Dublin to Drogheda in Co Louth appeared to reach another milestone on Tuesday when Eamon Ryan briefed Cabinet on the State’s intention to seek planning permission for the project.
‘You’re wrong, you’re wrong’ - Simon Harris equipped with bar charts leaves Sinn Féin rivals reeling: If the new Taoiseach doesn’t slow down, he’ll start sparking like an overloaded socket one of these days and spontaneously combust in the Dáil. He was on fire during Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday.
Irish recognition of Palestinian state criticised by Israel and its supporters: The Government’s decision to officially recognise the state of Palestine on Wednesday was widely welcomed by many civil society groups, Opposition parties and supporters of Palestine.
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World

Rishi Sunak limbers up for UK election campaign centred on economy: British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, will fight the general election campaign on an economic platform, he has suggested.

TV

Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in season three of Bridgerton. Photograph: Liam Daniel/Netflix

Patrick Freyne’s potted guide to costume drama: It’s season three, and that means it’s the excellent Nicola Coughlan’s time to come into her own as a romantic heroine while running a small- to medium-sized Regency influencing business.

Opinion

Finn McRedmond: No matter what anyone says about Tony O’Reilly’s motivations, he knew how to live a full life

Business

Irish consumer mood slips for fourth month in a row: Irish consumer sentiment has slipped for the fourth month in a row in May, making it only the sixth time this has occurred since the beginning of the century, according a new data.