Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Deaf couple face €10k hearing aid bill — Danielle McLaughlin of Chime highlights the case of a working Portarlington couple struggling to afford hearing aids, as calls grow for a fully funded National Hearing Care Plan.

Diesel prices could top €2 a litre — Irish Road Haulage Association President Ger Hyland warns Middle East tensions may push fuel prices higher, raising costs for transport, businesses and consumers.

Irish family stranded abroad after cancelled flights — Monasterevin man Aaron Bannon Whelan describes being stuck overseas with his pregnant wife and 91-year-old grandfather after multiple flight cancellations.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Foster carers share life-changing journey — Castlepollard couple Alfie and Nicola Devine reflect on 18 years of fostering, the emotional highs and lows, and why respecting a child’s identity and culture is key.

Are gel nail lamps safe? — The Irish Cancer Society’s Kevin O’Hagan outlines the low but potential risks linked to UV nail dryers and why regular users should take simple precautions.

Major pharma boost for Athlone — Minister Peter Burke welcomes a €432m Novo Nordisk investment set to expand oral GLP-1 production and create hundreds of construction jobs in the Midlands.

School absences linked to Leaving Cert drop — ESRI researcher Dr Emer Smyth warns that missing 20+ days a year could cost students more than 80 Leaving Cert points and impact long-term health and career outcomes.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus rank poorly — Irish Travel Agents Association VP Paul Hackett reacts after Ryanair finishes bottom in a UK short-haul survey, while Aer Lingus struggles in long-haul rankings.

Pothole crisis sparks fury in Offaly — Sinn Féin Cllr Aoife Masterson says chronic underfunding has left roads in “abysmal” condition after her own tyre was blown out by a reported pothole.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner