EACH WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you five things you should know before you head out the door…

1. #WATER RESTRICTIONS: Dublin City Council has just announced that the ongoing problems with water supply in the capital will mean that restrictions will remain in place until at least next Thursday.

2. #ULSTER BANK: Over €10 billion of high-risk or non-performing assets in Ulster Bank are to be put into a ‘bad bank’ within its parent Royal Bank of Scotland under a major restructuring plan announced today.

3. #THOMAS BYRNE: Former solicitor Thomas Byrne, accused of theft and fraud offences totalling over €50 million, has told the Circuit Criminal Court that he was intimidated by a former client, leaving him fearing for his family’s safety. [RTÉ]

4. #SMOKING: Smoking has now been banned on the grounds of three Dublin maternity hospitals. The restrictions at the Coombe, Rotunda and Holles Street will see all smoking shelters outside the hospital dismantled.

5. #CONFIDENCE: Are you confident? According to the latest KBC Ireland/ESRI consumer sentiment index consumer confidence is at its highest in over six years. So there’s some positive news to take home with you for the weekend.