A network of 19 “mini police forces” is to be set up across the country under a massive restructuring of the Garda organisation.

The reality of knife crime and arranged fights between gangs of teens is laid bare in this Garda photograph.

Enterprising women are showing the way in West Cork in launching and expanding small businesses.

A total of 22 motorists have tested positive for driving under the influence of drugs so far this year in Cork, with cannabis and cocaine the most common drugs detected.

Almost 260 jobs were created by small companies in Co Cork last year with the help of more than €1m in grant-aid.

Overall manpower reduced by 30% in four years even as the drugs trade grows in size and profitability

Gardaí face the risk of a raft of civil actions as members are not properly trained to use batons and pepper sprays.

Minor welfare concerns are building up to a risk of abuse in some childcare situations because of a shortage of social workers.

More than 350 gardaí in Cork have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion of no confidence in the justice minister and the Garda commissioner, in the first tangible sign of insurrection over proposed wage cuts.

Ireland will have to pay about €12 million to the European Commission this year in respect of issues such as non-compliant farmers, and overpayments, which were revealed in audits by officials from the Commission.

TDs and senators claimed more than €600,000 in expenses in December, the latest figures show.

A NATIONWIDE project to encourage openness and transparency in the mental health services began with mayoral visits to psychiatric units in Cork and Tullamore.

THE head of the Garda Inspectorate will preside over the first comprehensive public meeting on crime in Cork on November 8 next.

PUBLIC order problems in Dublin and Cork are being driven by sharp rises in incidents outside the city centres, new figures indicate.

CORK North Central will benefit from the transfer of populations from two other constituencies to make up the glaring deficit of population that became obvious in the 2006 Census.

A MAJOR celebration is planned this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of former cabinet minister and Republican hero Seán Moylan.

GARDAÍ may have been able to incapacitate a young man who stabbed an officer before killing himself had they used pepper spray, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference heard yesterday.

A PETITION with more than 62,000 signatures calling for nationwide breast screening was yesterday presented to the Government by the Labour Party.

THREE constituencies in the south and west could lose a TD in the next general election due to a fall in the voting population, it emerged yesterday.

THE Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland has decided to continue outside the broader trade union movement, as well as ruling against a merger with colleague teachers.