What the papers say: Wednesday's front pages

Eva Osborne

A range of stories feature on the front pages of Irish newspapers on Wednesday.

The Irish Times reports that Ireland is "flying blind" without the updated medium-term fiscal plan that was promised in last year's programme for government.

According to the State's independent budget watchdog, the Coalition is "budgeting like there's no tomorrow" with no forecasts available beyond 2026.

There were almost 800 vacant places in special classes in schools across the country in September, according to the Irish Examiner, which parents say reveals a widening gap between official figures and the lived reality of families seeking appropriate education for their children.

The Echo leads with the funeral of Stella Gallagher, the 59-year-old woman who died after a violent attack near her home.

Her funeral heard that she brought "goodness and beauty to this world" and was a joy to be around.

There were tears of joy and hugs galore as more than 300 Irish peacekeepers returned to their families after six months on a Unifil mission in southern Lebanon, the Irish Independent reports.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with Enoch Burke being returned to prison on Tuesday on foot of a High Court order to imprison him for contempt.

A woman is being treated for serious burn injuries after an alleged assault at a home in west Dublin, the Irish Daily Star reports.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with migrants leaving asylum accommodation now making up a majority of new emergency housing occupants in Dublin, according to a confidential Government report.

Detective believe the 43-year-old woman who suffered serious burns when she was set on fire as she answered the door of her home may not have been the primary target of the attack, according to The Herald.