Good morning! Here's what you need to know today about Ireland's economy.

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🇮🇪 Ireland

• Dublin landlords selling at record pace after rental reform — Investors selling properties accounted for 24% of all residential sales in Dublin between July and September, up from 20% in the previous quarter and a healthy historical average of just 10% in a normal market, according to a report from estate agency DNG. The trend intensified after rental sector reforms, which took effect in March and made it harder to evict tenants, led many landlords to wait for existing leases to run their natural course before putting properties up for sale. Irish Times, 24/09/2026
• Ireland updates minimum salary thresholds for work visas in 2026 — The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment raised the salary floors employers must pay to sponsored foreign workers: the General Employment Permit went from €34,000 to €36,605/year, the Critical Skills Permit with a relevant degree went from €38,000 to €40,909 (and without a degree, from €64,000 to €68,911), and carers/healthcare assistants went from €30,000 to €32,691. Two new categories were also created, for Irish graduates and Critical Skills graduates. Legit.ng, 24/09/2026
• McDonald's opens in Carrigaline (Cork) with 80 jobs — The new location, a €6.6 million investment with a 24-hour drive-thru, opens on October 21 and will offer full-time and part-time positions, as well as middle and senior management roles. Echo Live, 24/09/2026
• MTU students protest over cost of living — Hundreds of Munster Technological University students walked out of class in Cork on Thursday, saying they spend between €14,000 and over €16,000 a year to study and live, including more than €7,000 on accommodation alone and the €2,500 annual fee charged to every student. Irish Examiner, 24/09/2026

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💡 What this means for you

• If you're looking for a rental in Dublin, the accelerating exit of landlords from the market (24% of sales this quarter) is likely to shrink the pool of available rental properties even further — it's worth widening your search beyond the city center and acting fast when you find something within budget.
• If you're planning to come to Ireland on an employer-sponsored visa in 2026, check whether the company's salary offer already meets the new minimum thresholds (e.g., €36,605 for the General Employment Permit or €40,909 for Critical Skills with a degree) — below that, the permit application could be refused.

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Sources for this edition: Irish Times, Legit.ng, Echo Live, Irish Examiner

Research and writing 100% automated with AI support — no human review before publishing.