The Week that was

Monday

■ THE Government is probing an “unexplained” surge in people getting disability allowance in the past decade. There was a jump of more than 42,000 people getting the payments during that period. Currently, 126,000 people get the allowance – a 50pc rise from 10 years ago – while the cost has leapt to €1.3bn.

Tuesday

■ THE controversial sale of thousands of home mortgages and farm loans has been thrown into doubt, with one analyst warning it could become “another Irish Water”. The proposed sale of €4bn worth of residential mortgages and other loans by Permanent TSB has sparked fears vulture funds will end up controlling the loans, causing chaos for families. Pictured above is Permanent TSB CEO Jeremy Masding.

Wednesday

■ A STATE-owned bank fired the starting gun on the biggest ever sale of home loans, despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar indicating in the Dáil that homeowners would be protected. Vulture funds are now poised to buy up 14,000 home loans with combined debts of €2bn, as well as thousands of other buy-to-let mortgages and loans.

Thursday

■ THE worst impact of Brexit will be postponed for at least two years after a major climbdown by the British Prime Minister, Theresa May. The UK and its government will continue to operate under EU laws during a two-year transition period, according to a draft legal text.

Friday

■ TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar claims low property rates here help balance out the high burden of income tax faced by high-earning workers. While promising the Government will “dramatically” reduce the income tax burden in the coming years, Mr Varadkar (above) said companies should stop complaining that taxes are too high.