Lingering recession-era cutbacks mean that, when a teacher is absent, children with special needs often lose out, writes Michael Clifford.

Last week my colleagues in Goodbody organised an event on the theme of “funding the future of Cork”.

An internal report carried out by Cork County Council paints a “devastating” blow to the local authority’s future growth and investment if the National Planning Framework (NPF) is implemented.

Multibillion-euro projects to support rural areas, build new hospitals and to fund start-up businesses will be unveiled today under the long-awaited national development plan.

The Government’s plan for growth over the next two decades will “kill” rural Ireland and walk the country into “economic and social imbalance”, a coalition of TDs has warned.

A HEFTY price is being paid for relaxed planning regulations, over many decades, which allowed houses almost everywhere in rural areas, particularly in western counties.

The National Planning Framework focuses on Dublin to the detriment of the regions. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be, says the ex-minister who initiated it, Alan Kelly.

For Ireland to reach its economic development potential over the next 20 years, Irish policymakers need to undergo a change of mindset. 

A formal proposal by Cork County Council to extend the city boundary would leave it with a revenue deficit of €8.6m annually, considerably less than a near €50m per year loss if the Mackinnon report recommendations are implemented.

It is hard to argue with the contention that we should have a balanced economy. It means an economy that not only has a broad mix of industries where we are highly effective and competitive but an economy that enhances the potential of the whole country.

Allowing domination by Dublin Airport is not in the national interest, according to a business organisation in Limerick.

The growing economic imbalance between the regions and the greater Dublin economy needs addressing as a matter of national urgency, according to business group Ibec.

PENSION planning may have been the root-canal work of managing your affairs – you do it when you have to but not a moment before. It combines cost, confusion and long-term speculation in the most opaque and unattractive way, yet deferring your involvement creates even more problems.

TWO-thirds of people want the Government to bring in mandatory pensions but experts say the Government’s proposals won’t be enough to fund a comfortable retirement.

IRELAND’S elderly population needs to fight plans to extend the retirement age unless concerns over ageism and training for older people in the workplace are addressed, according to a new report.

THE National Pensions Framework (NPF) launched on Wednesday should be seen as just an opening gambit in an ever-evolving set of arrangements to encourage all of us to accept our responsibilities to provide for ourselves and others after our working lives end.