Gardai renew search for traces of Fiona Pender

Gardaí are to begin a new search today for traces of a pregnant woman who disappeared 18 years ago.

Fiona Pender went missing from her flat in County Offaly in August 1996 - she was 25 years old at the time and less than two months away from giving birth.

The cold case was re-opened by detectives last year and it's believed a breakthrough has led to the latest hunt.

Garda authorities are to brief members of the media on developments tomorrow.

Homeless crisis

A major charity will point the finger of blame at the Government later as it launches a new plan to get people off the streets.

Depaul Ireland says the social housing waiting list has now reached 90-thousand, but affordable homes aren't being built to meet the demand.

The issue of homelessness was thrust into the spotlight this week, after the death of a man in a doorway just feet from the Dáil.

INMO Protest

Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation will stage a protest at Beaumont Hospital this lunchtime.

It's to highlight the issue of overcrowding in the Emergency Department there.

In November, 729 patients had to wait on trolleys for an in-patient bed at the hospital, that's compared with 661 for the same period last year.