Cork City Council announced a free parking initiative to encourage shoppers to support city centre businesses hit by recent flooding.

There are calls for an independent investigation into the €108m spent on the Poolbeg Incinerator in Dublin.

Gardaí are to mount extra patrols in Cork City next Saturday in an attempt to quell any trouble sparked by bonfire night celebrations.

NEARLY half of people in Dublin do not feel safe in the city at night time, a poll has found.

CORK GAA officials say talks on the purchase of Showgrounds land to facilitate the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh should reach an amicable solution “reasonably quickly.”

BUILDING is finally set to commence on one of the country’s largest regeneration programmes, after contracts for a €5.5 million development in Limerick’s Moyross housing estate were signed yesterday.

Political divisions were put to one side today as the funeral took place in Cork of seven-year-old Léana Martin, the daughter of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

The Environment Minister is welcoming a move to allow Dublin City Councillors to see a copy of the contract between the Council, Covanta and the developer of the controversial Poolbeg Incinerator.

Dublin City Councillors are to receive a copy of the contract between the council and Covanta - the developer of the controversial Poolbeg incinerator in Ringsend.

THE Cork County Board may need three-quarters of city councillors to vote for their planned re-development of Páirc Uí Chaoimh if it is to get the go-ahead.

Bad weather is continuing to disrupt water supplies around the country, but there has been some improvement.

Cork City Council will have to spend almost €35m on flood repairs and future preventative measures following last month’s devastating floods.

THE amount of water discharged from the Inniscarra Dam west of Cork city in the hours preceding last months devastating floods was almost twice the amount the ESB gave in its final warning to the city council, it was revealed last night.

A new park and ride facility is planned by Cork City Council for the Carrigrohane Straight Road on the western side of the city.

Dublin City Council is set to introduce €30m worth of spending cuts because of the economic downturn.

A decision on the largest planning application ever lodged in Cork city will be made this week.

CORK’S city manager has been asked to intervene in a standoff which has forced the closure of a famous lane for more than a month.

Cork could surpass Dublin and become one of the most attractive locations for investment in Europe, according to Greg Coughlan, chief executive of property development company Howard Holdings.

Dublin Fire Brigade will boast more than 40 new firefighters later today.

A PRIME section of Waterford’s city centre quays is in line to become a civic urban space, following the purchase of the land by the city council.

Tommy Barker says Jacob Island’s homes are a class apart.

THE new taskforce appointed to combat social exclusion and crime in Limerick’s Moyross faces a tough battle after years of gangland shootings and drug-related feuds.

THERE are 353 city council-owned homes lying vacant in Cork city and more than half of them are on the northside.

WATERFORD City Council is to implement a roads programme that will see almost €32 million invested in the current year on the city’s road and transport infrastructure.

THERE were calls last night for better break-downs on Cork City Council spending after concerns were raised about how €200 million was spent on capital projects.

DUBLIN City Council yesterday said it had full confidence in the capital’s troubled Port Tunnel, due to open in April.

Dublin City Council today declared it had full confidence in the capital’s troubled Port Tunnel, due to open in April.

PLANS for a 6,000 to 10,000-seat events arena similar to Belfast’s Odyssey Arena have been proposed for a site west of Cork city as a new home for the Munster Showgrounds.

Two Limerick born brothers who founded the Irish charity Concern have been honoured with the freedom of their native city, along with renowned broadcaster of traditional Irish music.

A PARK which was voted the best in Ireland in 2004 may now be a health hazard for Limerick people.

SITES for new shops are being assembled quietly on and off Grand Parade in Cork.

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

The Mahon Tribunal has rejected a claim by two of the directors of the failed Century Radio Oliver Barry and James Stafford for almost €1m in legal costs.

The proposed pedestrianisation of Cork’s main thoroughfare, Patrick’s Street, has been scrapped by the City Council, it was revealed today as the street’s €13m revamp was launched, the Evening Echo reports.

New guidelines for the design of shop fronts for O’Connell Street have been launched in an effort to restore O'Connell street back to its former glory.

“FOR once in my life I’m actually speechless. I’m sure the Minister for Finance would be happy to hear that.”

Property Editor

I HAVE just read a report (Irish Examiner, Wednesday, July 23) regarding the proposal to deprive the people of Blackrock and Rochestown in Cork of being able to use the Marina-to-Rochestown walk for recreation.

A €20 MILLION mixed-use development has gone on site less than 100 yards from St Patrick’s Bridge in Cork city.

CORK is among the front-runners to host the European Cross-Country Championships in 2005 — the year the City will hold the status of European Capital of Culture.

FINE GAEL members of Dublin City Council are set to defy a senior party order to vote against large increases in service charges.

TDs are to fight for Government compensation for victims of flooding in Cork, so payments to hardship cases can be made by the Irish Red Cross in the same way as to other victims in Athlone, Dublin and Meath.