By Jessica Coates, PA
Saturday's front pages focus on a range of stories from the Arts Council paying €9 million on consultants to Cork homes facing dirty water until the summer.
The Irish Times reports the number of staff employed at the Arts Council has more than tripled in less than a decade, while spending on consultants amounts to more than €9 million since 2019, an examination of the body’s annual reports shows.
The Irish Examiner report Cork’s dirty water crisis is set to persist well into the summer, with another €1.6 million being spent on the city’s new €40 million water treatment plant in a bid to tackle the problem.
The Echo lead on a call for more funding for roads in Cork after €94 million was announced for road networks in the county.
Arts Council blasts blame game over failed IT system and says it repeatedly flagged it as a 'key risk' in its annual reports pic.twitter.com/C7MK2YxShT
— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) February 13, 2025
Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/MP9TOXDi99
— The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) February 15, 2025
Morning, readers 👋
Here's the front page of today's Belfast Telegraph 📰
Stick with us for all your breaking news.https://t.co/bPJ0Ifm0F2 pic.twitter.com/VyNRk0BDhf
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) February 15, 2025
Comments from US vice president JD Vance about free speech in Britain lead Saturday’s front pages.
The Financial Times, Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph all lead on Mr Vance saying Europe’s “threat from within” is a greater risk than that posed by China and Russia.
Meanwhile, The Times reports the vice president accused America’s allies of abandoning their “fundamental values”.
The Independent warns Sir Keir Starmer is on a “collision course” with US President Donald Trump over Ukraine and Nato.
And the Daily Star claims actor Robert De Niro has been tipped to take over from Mr Trump.
The UK is spending millions telling Albanians not to come to Britain, according to the iWeekend. The social media advertising campaign created by the Government reportedly says the UK is bigoted, expensive and has few jobs available.
The Daily Mirror leads on an exclusive interview with Caroline Flack’s mother, who says her daughter has left a “life-saving legacy”.
The Daily Express splashes on a campaign from 13-year-old Zach Eagling, who wants to make train, bus and other travel services more inclusive.
Lastly, The Sun leads with Strictly star Davood Ghadami’s romantic pursuits.
