A LEADING Polish newspaper has carried a report attributing the country's falling crime figures to the fact that troublemakers are leaving to work abroad, predominantly in Britain and Ireland.

In the first half of this year there were 4,500 fewer crimes reported in Poland. The chief prosecutor in Krakow has put the trend down to the type of people that are emigrating, but the Polish Embassy in Dublin says there has been no evidence of an increase in crime in relation to Polish nationals living in Ireland.

Difference of over /1,000 in similar holidays

UNLESS consumers shop around for their summer holidays, they could be paying over 1,000 more than necessary for the same holiday from different tour operators, according to a survey released yesterday.

A mystery shopping survey of some of the country's largest tour operators undertaken last week found that prices for the same holidays can vary by as much as 1,354 between different operators.

The survey was carried out anonymously on behalf of Budget Travel.

In one case, the survey discovered a difference of 1,354 between tour operators for the same holiday, with Budget Travel offering a two week trip to Spain for 1,499 and Falcon Holidays charging 2,853 for the same holiday in the same complex.

USI hold demonstration over maintenance grants

THERE will be a peaceful protest tomorrow by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), who intend to portray the 'Feast and Famine' contrast between 2,200 and 86 - the weekly wage of a TD versus the basic student maintenance grant.

Student officers from colleges throughout Ireland will assemble outside the Office of the Taoiseach to stage the dramatisation at 11.30am tomorrow.

The student leaders hope to demonstrate the financial misery experienced by thousands of students in third level education.

Women runners swell ranks of 10 mile race UPto 2,500 people registered to take part in the Adidas Frank Duffy 10 mile race in the Phoenix Park in Dublin yesterday. Just five years ago it was only attracting about 300 entrants.

The race organisers said there has been a huge increase in the numbers of women taking part, which is put down to the growth in popularity of running as a form of exercise in this country.

Alarming rise in STD among Irish students

THERE has been a dramatic increase in the number of Leaving Cert students contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD) while on post-exam holidays, according to experts.

A leading hospital consultant, Dr Mary Horgan, says peer pressure and excessive drinking are two of the main factors for the alarming rise in STDs.

The most common diseases are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and Hepatitis B, although being infected with HIV is also a possibility.

The rate of syphilis in Dublin is among the highest in Europe.

K-Club greenkeepers accept new pay deal

GREENKEEPERS at the K-Club have been awarded pay increases of up to 50% over the next sixteen months.

The decision follows the acceptance of a Labour Court recommendation after a long running dispute about pay.