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The Journal Investigates

@investigates.thejournal.ie
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The home for groundbreaking investigative journalism by @thejournal.ie • Find out more: thejournal.ie/investigates/about Support our investigative team: thejournal.ie/contribute/?pitch=inv…

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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 29/09/2026
In the latest from the FOI Files, we tell how a string of Freedom of Information requests led to the discovery that some of Tusla's data didn't add up:
thejournal.ie
Tusla and how some of its data on foster carers didn't add up
Tusla is now considering centralising some data after an FOI request highlighted a gap.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 27/09/2026
“There is an unfair expectation that baby blues will lift for new mothers after a couple of weeks.” Many women have called for more support during the first year after giving birth. They said that the current level of support given isn't sufficient. jrnl.ie/7172118t
jrnl.ie
‘I felt completely alone’: Readers share their stories accessing pregnancy mental health supports
Our readers told us that not enough is being done to support women struggling during and after their pregnancy.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 27/09/2026
Again and again, pregnant women and new mothers told us how they felt extremely isolated and without mental health support as they struggled. One described how a doctor printed out a page from the HSE website for her to read about postnatal depression. jrnl.ie/7172118t
jrnl.ie
‘I felt completely alone’: Readers share their stories accessing pregnancy mental health supports
Our readers told us that not enough is being done to support women struggling during and after their pregnancy.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 27/09/2026
Some women had to rely on community supports in place of actual care. One said that a public health nurse running a support group on breastfeeding told women to pretend that they were breastfeeding so that they could access some support. jrnl.ie/7172118t
jrnl.ie
‘I felt completely alone’: Readers share their stories accessing pregnancy mental health supports
Our readers told us that not enough is being done to support women struggling during and after their pregnancy.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 27/09/2026
‘I felt completely alone’: Readers share their stories accessing pregnancy mental health supports jrnl.ie/7172118t
jrnl.ie
‘I felt completely alone’: Readers share their stories accessing pregnancy mental health supports
Our readers told us that not enough is being done to support women struggling during and after their pregnancy.
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Reposted by The Journal Investigates
Conor O'Carroll @conorocarroll.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Tonight, the final part in our investigation into perinatal mental health tells women's stories in their own words. Again and again, they told us how they felt extremely isolated and without support as they struggled with their mental health. Read just after midnight on thejournal.ie 🔜
A screenshot of an upcoming article on The Journal. The headline reads '‘I felt completely alone’: Readers share their stories accessing pregnancy mental health supports'
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 23/09/2026
The Minister of State Mary Butler has expressed concern about the time it is taking to locate the first mother and baby psychiatric unit. She said she expects "to see the development of the [unit] achieved as soon as possible” in a letter to the HSE CEO. jrnl.ie/7166850
jrnl.ie
Location of mother and baby psychiatric unit still not decided after almost ten years of delays
The minister expressed concern with the length of time taken to progress the unit, calling it ‘an urgent need’.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 23/09/2026
A feasibility study looking at where to locate Ireland’s first mother and baby psychiatric unit has not yet concluded more than two years after it commenced. The unit was first recommended in 2017, but progress on the project remains slow. jrnl.ie/7166850
jrnl.ie
Location of mother and baby psychiatric unit still not decided after almost ten years of delays
The minister expressed concern with the length of time taken to progress the unit, calling it ‘an urgent need’.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 23/09/2026
Two years after the latest feasibility study on where to locate the first mother and baby psychiatric unit commenced, no decision has been reached. The Minister has said the resources exist to complete the project and that a decision needs to be made. jrnl.ie/7166850
jrnl.ie
Location of mother and baby psychiatric unit still not decided after almost ten years of delays
The minister expressed concern with the length of time taken to progress the unit, calling it ‘an urgent need’.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 23/09/2026
Location of mother and baby psychiatric unit still not decided after almost ten years of delays jrnl.ie/7166850
jrnl.ie
Location of mother and baby psychiatric unit still not decided after almost ten years of delays
The minister expressed concern with the length of time taken to progress the unit, calling it ‘an urgent need’.
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Reposted by The Journal Investigates
Conor O'Carroll @conorocarroll.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Tonight, the second part in our investigation into perinatal mental health. First promised in 2017, a location for the first mother and baby psychiatric unit has still not been decided, as we reveal how a feasibility study has dragged on for over two years. Read after midnight on thejournal ie 🔜
A screenshot of an upcoming article on The Journal. The headline reads 'Location of mother and baby psychiatric unit still not decided after almost ten years of delays'.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 22/09/2026
Specialist mental health services for pregnant women and new mothers have tightened their acceptance criteria in recent years, a new investigation has found. Wait times for appointments can also take over a month for many women in crisis. jrnl.ie/7166693
jrnl.ie
Pregnant women and new mothers find access to crisis mental health support restricted
The Journal Investigates spoke to some women who have to travel for hours to be seen at six specialist hubs around the country.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 22/09/2026
Despite mental health services being in place for pregnant women and new mothers, they are not always available to the women who need them. This can be because they live too far away, don’t meet the right criteria or aren’t told they exist. jrnl.ie/7166693
jrnl.ie
Pregnant women and new mothers find access to crisis mental health support restricted
The Journal Investigates spoke to some women who have to travel for hours to be seen at six specialist hubs around the country.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 22/09/2026
Over the next year, The Journal Investigates is looking at the issues that affect women’s lives through four topics.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 22/09/2026
The FOI Files: Ahead of Ireland's UEFA Nations League match with Israel later this week, our team looks at what the FAI said to the Department of Sport about the game. The records suggest the FAI were exploring hosting Israel in Dublin. jrnl.ie/7165130
jrnl.ie
What did the FAI say to the Department of Sport about Ireland’s Nations League fixture with Israel?
The records suggest that the FAI was considering the possibility of hosting Israel in Dublin.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 22/09/2026
Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death and late maternal death in Ireland, and vital services exist to help pregnant women and new mothers in crisis. But our investigation found that women are finding their access restricted when they need it. jrnl.ie/7166693
jrnl.ie
Pregnant women and new mothers find access to crisis mental health support restricted
The Journal Investigates spoke to some women who have to travel for hours to be seen at six specialist hubs around the country.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 22/09/2026
NEW: Pregnant women and new mothers find access to crisis mental health support restricted jrnl.ie/7166693
jrnl.ie
Pregnant women and new mothers find access to crisis mental health support restricted
The Journal Investigates spoke to some women who have to travel for hours to be seen at six specialist hubs around the country.
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Reposted by The Journal Investigates
Conor O'Carroll @conorocarroll.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Tonight, the start of a new series looking at the issues that impact the safety of women in Ireland. Our first investigation, which looks at perinatal mental health, found that despite services existing, they are not always available to women who need them. Read after midnight on thejournal.ie 🔜
A screenshot of an upcoming article on The Journal. The headline reads 'Pregnant women and new mothers find access to crisis mental health support restricted'.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 15/09/2026
In the latest edition of the FOI Files from The Journal Investigates, we hear about how a Senator went looking for submissions made under a public consultation with related laws going through the Oireachtas - and kept looking, and looking...
thejournal.ie
A politician went looking for submissions made under a public consultation and got nothing
How a Senator’s FOI requests fell short on exempted development.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 08/09/2026
The FOI Files: The year-long battle for records on Ireland’s promised Wildlife Crime Unit www.thejournal.ie/wildlife-cri...
thejournal.ie
http://www.thejournal.ie/wildlife-crime-unit-ireland-7135559-Aug2026/
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 08/09/2026
Tusla has admitted it can't say how many foster carers have been removed from the role in recent years due to a complaint or an allegation:
thejournal.ie
Tusla can't say how many foster carers were removed due to complaints or allegations
Data is not centrally collated and the initial figure was deemed an “overcount”.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 01/09/2026
The FOI Files: Why won’t the Department of Equality release a two-year-old report on expanding gender recognition? The Department paid €35,000 for this report but won't release it because they're still 'deliberating' on its findings two years later. jrnl.ie/7147325
jrnl.ie
Why won’t the Department of Equality release a two-year-old report on expanding gender recognition?
The report was completed in 2024, but has never been released.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
Some seaweed harvesters are claiming they work for certain companies, but when regulators later check whether this is true, the companies in question strongly deny any knowledge. This has left little scope for enforcement action. jrnl.ie/7138346t
jrnl.ie
Maritime regulator investigating multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting in protected areas
The Journal Investigates found that MARA, the maritime regulator, is investigating multiple claims but is struggling to determine who is responsible.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
Just four companies have submitted 12 applications to harvest seaweed along Ireland's coast as the global industry booms. They plan to harvest 51,000 wet tonnes of seaweed every year if approved by the maritime regulator. jrnl.ie/7138438t
jrnl.ie
Who's behind the seaweed harvesting applications covering over 14,000 hectares of Ireland's coastline?
Four companies are seeking to harvest almost 51,000 wet tonnes of seaweed a year from Ireland’s coast.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
Multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting are being investigated by the maritime regulator. But difficulties catching harvesters in the act to verify whether they hold the correct licence have left them struggling to determine who is responsible. jrnl.ie/7138346t
jrnl.ie
Maritime regulator investigating multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting in protected areas
The Journal Investigates found that MARA, the maritime regulator, is investigating multiple claims but is struggling to determine who is responsible.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
The FOI Files: How Dublin City Council discovered the diesel leak in the Liffey. The released records show that it was a Dublin City Council official who first raised the alarm, having spotted the leak in the river some 2km from the source. www.thejournal.ie/the-foi-file...
thejournal.ie
The FOI Files: How Dublin City Council discovered the diesel leak in the Liffey
The records show the leak spread some 2km from the Samuel Beckett Bridge before being spotted.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
More than 14,000 hectares of Ireland’s coastline have been proposed for seaweed harvesting, with 12 applications submitted to the maritime regulator. But which companies are behind these applications, and how much do they plan to harvest? jrnl.ie/7138438t
jrnl.ie
http://jrnl.ie/7138438t
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
MARA says it is investigating several complaints related to seaweed harvesting, but has found identifying who's responsible challenging. Some incidents have also "threatened to become confrontational”, including some directed towards NPWS staff. jrnl.ie/7138346t
jrnl.ie
Maritime regulator investigating multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting in protected areas
The Journal Investigates found that MARA, the maritime regulator, is investigating multiple claims but is struggling to determine who is responsible.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 25/08/2026
The maritime regulator is investigating multiple claims that illegal seaweed harvesting is taking place in special areas of conservation, a new investigation can reveal. jrnl.ie/7138346t
jrnl.ie
Maritime regulator investigating multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting in protected areas
The Journal Investigates found that MARA, the maritime regulator, is investigating multiple claims but is struggling to determine who is responsible.
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Reposted by The Journal Investigates
Conor O'Carroll @conorocarroll.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Tonight, a new investigation reveals how MARA, the maritime regulator, is investigating multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting in protected areas. But the regulator is struggling to determine who is responsible, leaving little enforcement action. Read on thejournal.ie just after midnight
A screenshot of an upcoming article on The Journal. The headline reads, 'Maritime regulator investigating multiple claims of illegal seaweed harvesting in protected areas'
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 18/08/2026
The FOI Files: Sixteen hares hit by dogs. One greyhound euthanised. A “clerical error” recording 10 dead hares. All revealed in four DAFM inspection reports. www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursin...
thejournal.ie
https://www.thejournal.ie/hare-coursing-inspections-7120798-Aug2026/
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 11/08/2026
The FOI Files: Why the Department of Foreign Affairs won’t release details of its lobby meetings with Amazon jrnl.ie/7114508
jrnl.ie
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 11/08/2026
The use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) is rising significantly, with doctors warning that they can't always be detected by routine hospital drug tests. A new pilot early warning system is already in operation to identify novel substances. jrnl.ie/7122828
jrnl.ie
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 06/08/2026
A Europe-wide investigation by The Journal and others into how more than 5,000 women have to travel abroad each year for abortion care has been shortlisted for a prestigious IJ4EU Impact Award. uncovered.ij4.eu/impact-award...
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 04/08/2026
Pregnant women receive six hospital & GP visits over the course of their pregnancy. But after the baby is born, the level of support falls away dramatically. Our investigative team would like to hear about your experiences of post-natal care in Ireland. jrnl.ie/7118604
jrnl.ie
Have you experienced any mental health challenges after birth? We want to hear your stories
Supports for women fall away dramatically after giving birth – we want to know what impact this is having
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 04/08/2026
Timing is everything - sometimes even with Freedom of Information requests. The latest edition of The FOI Files from the team at The Journal Investigates outlines just how quirks of the calendar can be your friend - or your enemy: www.thejournal.ie/time-of-deci...
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 04/08/2026
Pregnant women receive six hospital & GP visits over the course of their pregnancy. But after the baby is born, the level of support falls away dramatically. Our investigative team would like to hear about your experiences of post-natal care in Ireland. jrnl.ie/7118604
jrnl.ie
Have you experienced any mental health challenges after birth? We want to hear your stories
Supports for women fall away dramatically after giving birth – we want to know what impact this is having
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 28/07/2026
The FOI Files: How one question that revealed child in State care went missing 274 times in a year.
thejournal.ie
The question that revealed child in State care went missing 274 times in a year
Tusla records not only revealed almost 7,000 missing from care incidents but also how one child had been reported missing 274 times in 12 months while in State care.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 26/07/2026
Almost 17,000 hectares of wildfire damage in last 10 years overlapped Natura 2000 protected sites in Ireland, our latest investigation has found. READ:
jrnl.ie
Ireland has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites
Following a spate of devastating wildfires, analysis has found that more than half of the land burned here over the past decade overlapped with protected nature areas – significantly higher than the...
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 26/07/2026
Ireland may not have experienced Europe's 'mega fires' but analysis carried out alongside The Journal Investigates has found that it has one of the highest rates of wildfire overlap on protected areas in the EU. READ:
jrnl.ie
Ireland has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites
Following a spate of devastating wildfires, analysis has found that more than half of the land burned here over the past decade overlapped with protected nature areas – significantly higher than the...
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 26/07/2026
NEW INVESTIGATION: Despite escaping the 'mega fires' seen in countries such as Spain and Greece, Ireland actually has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites, we can reveal
jrnl.ie
Ireland has one of Europe’s highest rates of wildfire overlap with protected nature sites
Following a spate of devastating wildfires, analysis has found that more than half of the land burned here over the past decade overlapped with protected nature areas – significantly higher than the...
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 24/07/2026
Ireland's largest data centres used close to one billion litres of water last year, a new investigation has found. But the findings also show how the pharmaceutical industry uses far more. jrnl.ie/7110966
jrnl.ie
Data centres used almost one billion litres of water last year, but another industry used far more
The Journal Investigates found that while data centres use huge quantities of water every year, pharmaceutical companies often use a lot more.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 24/07/2026
Meta's data centre campus in Meath and an Equinix campus in Dublin were by far the highest water users for data centres last year. The two campuses of eight data centres used over 954 million litres of water between them. jrnl.ie/7110966
jrnl.ie
Data centres used almost one billion litres of water last year, but another industry used far more
The Journal Investigates found that while data centres use huge quantities of water every year, pharmaceutical companies often use a lot more.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 24/07/2026
Though data centres used enough water to fill 400 Olympic swimming pools last year, the figures pale in comparison to other sectors of the economy. Six pharma plants used two billion litres last year, while the Aughinish Alumina plant in Limerick used over five billion litres. jrnl.ie/7110966
jrnl.ie
Data centres used almost one billion litres of water last year, but another industry used far more
The Journal Investigates found that while data centres use huge quantities of water every year, pharmaceutical companies often use a lot more.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 24/07/2026
NEW: Data centres used almost one billion litres of water last year, but another industry used far more. Our investigation found that while data centres use huge quantities of water every year, pharmaceutical companies often use a lot more. jrnl.ie/7110966
jrnl.ie
Data centres used almost one billion litres of water last year, but another industry used far more
The Journal Investigates found that while data centres use huge quantities of water every year, pharmaceutical companies often use a lot more.
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Reposted by The Journal Investigates
Conor O'Carroll @conorocarroll.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Tonight, a new investigation reveals how much water each individual data centre campus has used in the past two years. But our findings also show how pharma plants have used more than double that of data centres. Story w/ @davidmacredmond.bsky.social Read just after midnight on thejournal.ie 🔜
A screenshot of an upcoming story on The Journal. The headline reads "Data centres used almost one billion litres of water last year but another industry used far more".
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 21/07/2026
The FOI Files is a brand-new series from our team at The Journal Investigates. This week, we look at why the Department of Justice is failing to respond to FOI requests in a timely manner. One request submitted 8 months ago is still awaiting a decision. jrnl.ie/7092739
jrnl.ie
The FOI Files: Why the Department of Justice took 56 working days to find no records
A huge number of FOI requests is leading to long delays at the Department of Justice.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 14/07/2026
The waste industry is calling for nitrous oxide to be banned because canisters that end up in their machinery can explode, threatening worker safety. Up to 120 exploding canisters were recorded at one Irish waste facility over a recent two-week period. jrnl.ie/7084853
jrnl.ie
Thousands of nitrous oxide canisters are ending up at waste facilities amid warnings of explosions
An Irish waste facility recorded up to 120 exploding canisters over a recent two-week period.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 14/07/2026
More than 160,000 nitrous oxide canisters are ending up in waste facilities every year, causing problems for machinery and workers. A representative group said one Irish waste facility recorded up to 120 exploding canisters over a recent two-week period. jrnl.ie/7084853
jrnl.ie
Thousands of nitrous oxide canisters are ending up at waste facilities amid warnings of explosions
An Irish waste facility recorded up to 120 exploding canisters over a recent two-week period.
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The Journal Investigates @investigates.thejournal.ie · 14/07/2026
Young people in Ireland are increasingly being diagnosed with spinal cord damage from recreational use of nitrous oxide. But the government has no plans to introduce legislation banning the substance and will instead wait for EU rules due next year. jrnl.ie/7084853
jrnl.ie
Thousands of nitrous oxide canisters are ending up at waste facilities amid warnings of explosions
An Irish waste facility recorded up to 120 exploding canisters over a recent two-week period.
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