Thousands of kilometres of regional and local roads across the country are suffering from major defects, according to a new report by a local government watchdog.

Planning permission has been granted for a controversial energy plant in Co Roscommon.

Your lunchtime news bulletin.

Pieta House founder Joan Freeman believes the country is ready for a different type of presidency.

The presidential race opened up last night with the decision by Cork City Council to endorse Joan Freeman as their preferred candidate.

The ISPCA has confirmed a closure notice has been served on a premises in Co Roscommon where 86 dogs were rescued last week.

Further crippling strikes at Roscommon County Council are planned for next Tuesday and Thursday as management and 160 staff members remain completely at odds over flexi-leave.

Thousands of Irish people may have been burnt by the sun in recent days, but Irish MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan found himself burnt online by airline Aer Lingus yesterday in a Twitter spat.

SIPTU members in Roscommon County Council have voted for industrial action in a row over the use of GPS tracking devices.

The Government’s plan to build 47,000 social houses will “take a few years” to be completed, it was admitted yesterday.

One of the country’s most audacious school renovation projects has been recognised in this year’s RIAI architecture awards.

New junior minister Sean Canney is among a dozen former county and city councillors who will receive golden handshake payments from the local authorities after securing Dáil seats in February.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has moved to break the deadlock over a key stage of a coast-to-coast cycleway.

Seven retiring local authority chiefs executive last year enjoyed a pensions bonanza walking away with a combined pension lump sum of €1.8m.

An elderly couple had a miraculous escape when their car crashed through a bridge and plummeted into a river.

An incident response team has been put in place after an outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis was identified in south Roscommon.

Local authorities around the country are owed €247m in arrears from tenants who took out loans to buy former council houses.

Ninety jobs are expected to be created by an international drug company at a green field site in the Midlands.

PERHAPS Charlie Haughey was the ultimate free spirit. He did not even own his own clothes.

BACK in December I opened my weekly column in this newspaper with the following sentences: “Well done to independent TDs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, Luke “Ming” Flanagan and Joan Collins for trying to perform a public service in the Dáil this week.

Deputy Luke “Ming” Flanagan has become hopelessly ensnared in his own hypocritical web of deception.

Roscommon County Manager Frank Dawson has said he did not "sort out the penalty point issue" for Luke Ming Flanagan which saw penalty points wiped from the TD's licence.

Roscommon South Leitrim TD Luke Ming Flanagan has said he does not believe his quashing of penalty points is a resigning matter, though he accepted it was "corrupt and stupid".

The independent TD Luke Ming Flanagan has admitted that points for using a mobile phone while driving were twice removed from his licence.

Thanks to his hit TV show, Chris O’Dowd has put Boyle, Co Roscommon, on the map. The comedian’s father Seán gives Conor Power the tour of the town.

The Department of the Environment has written to all county and city managers giving updated details of the sums deducted from their funding as a result of the non-payment of the €100 household charge.

The Athlone Chamber of Commerce has said it is "outraged" at plans to close part of the main Dublin to Galway motorway for up to three weeks before Christmas.

PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Mary Davis was accused of employing a “blocking” strategy to prevent other independents getting nominations from local councils.

There has been another setback for David Norris' Presidential bid after he failed to secure a nomination from South Dublin County Council this evening.

Dana Rosemary Scallon has now secured the backing of a second County Council in the bid to get on the Presidential ticket.

David Norris has failed in his bid to receive a presidential nomination from Carlow County Council.

Senator David Norris has won the backing of Laois County Council in bid to get on the Presidential ballot paper.

THIRTEEN recently elected members of the Seanad are to share a windfall of almost €440,000.

A rally in support of retaining services at Roscommon County Hospital is getting underway around now in the town.

DEVELOPERS owed €800 million to cash-strapped local authorities in overdue levies at the end of 2008.

A FURTHER €16.5 million has been allocated to local authorities towards the cost of the clean-up operation following record flooding last month.

Thousands of residents in Co Clare have been issued with boil water notices after traces of E-Coli were found in the water supply, it emerged today.

The destruction of a “landmark” hotel in Roscommon to a massive fire was tonight branded a blow to the county.

JACK LYNCH’S government established a committee to inquire into Garda brutality following a damning inquiry by Amnesty International.

SEVEN county councils have failed to carry out even one inspection of rented properties over the last five recorded years.

Up to 8,000 households in County Roscommon have been left without water following a diesel oil spill at a reservoir.

Cork City has the highest rate of rubbish going to landfill, Mayo has provided the least Traveller accommodation and Carlow has the longest public library opening hours, it emerged today.

Finance Minister Brian Cowen sat drinking a pint of Guinness today inside the door of MJ Henry’s pub, where Sean Doherty and his Fianna Fáil cumann had plotted so many of their election victories.