THE new Planning and Development (amendment) Act 2010 will “spell the death knell” of the rural dweller and the one-off house, because it will take into account the energy expended in commutes between work and home, a council meeting has heard.

The fire service could be thrown back to the pre-Celtic Tiger days of second-hand vehicles if the Government slashes funding, it was warned today.

The union that represents part time fire fighters has criticized the absence of defibrillators in fire trucks, and also hit out at the lack of training for personnel in basic first aid.