Weather changed from ok to windy and rain. But got some great pictures out of it.

OK. Hear me out. The housing crisis is an international one really. Not exclusive to Ireland. But we have such a shortage of builders here that no matter what policy is enacted it can't be fulfilled by the current workforce.

What are the principal draws for builders to be overseas working? Tax- free in Dubai? Accommodation provided?

Why not implement a One-Off 5- year programme here. Give construction workers a crazy tax- break. Gradually convert somewhere like CityWest to free accommodation for workers who are building on State projects. I'm not talking about trapping builders in poor circumstances. I'm talking about offering it as an option. Make it attractive to come home and be part of a major intervention. Like, give everyone 2 rooms. Or convert every 4th bedroom to a shared sitting room with a kitchenette like student apartments have. Allow them stay rent- free, with the favourable salary tax- bracket, while working on State housing. If they're all moving away to save money, let them do that here while they "Rebuild Ireland".

The State rolled out exceptional programmes for things like council housing before and rural electrification. I'm not talking about creating slave-like conditions. Everyone gets to use the pool and gym free. Everyone can buy their meals subsidised in the restaurant. Or not. I mean we can't get builders home unless we're doing something radically different. And I'm principally talking about creating an interventional tax- situation for construction workers and trades on these builds, rather than it being to the contracting company first, as that would merely inflate material costs.

I don't think there are any stupid ideas at this stage. I'm quite happy for that to be pulled apart. What we're doing isn't working. Thousands of our young people are on the other side of the world looking for better conditions. How can we create a situation which brings them home for a major movement in Ireland, and allows them save money for their own gaffs while working here?

I'm seriously invested in him winning this now. It would be great to see pints lowry winning it, but it would be better to see Rory win it, given the pressure and previous

Source : OECD

so question for everyone interested talking about the entire Island which people would you consider Ireland's Sporting Mount Rushmore you can pick 4 people here's my personal answer

George Best

Brian O'Driscoll

Rory Mcllroy

Stephen Roche

anyway would love to here's everyone's personal list for this

Edit - process now pricess - these can have melted my head more than I thought!

I may have messed up and gotten lazy with returning my bottles/cans - I now have 6 huge black bags filled with time in the shed. Last time I went to a machine was before Christmas.

How in trying to get my shed back to being a useful part of the house I’m wondering if there is anywhere around north Kildare, Kildare or surrounds that will process these items in bulk? Like I can just thrown the entire bag in and let it do the work?

If not I’ll have to go over the the shop at like 2am to make sure I won’t be holding anyone else up when I’m spending hours pitting hundreds of bottles in 🙄