The long-mooted Northern Ring Road to unlock the economic potential of Cork city’s northside is more crucial than the proposed €850m M20 motorway between Cork and Limerick, a planning expert has said.

Town planning firm Coakley O’Neill argues that simplifying the planning process to build more homes is not the same as fast-tracking prjects. Pádraig Hoare talks to the firm’s Aiden O’Neill

The boss of Indaver Ireland has reiterated that the site selected for a proposed incinerator in Cork Harbour has always been the best one — and its suitability has only increased.

There were angry exchanges and at least three calls for an adjournment at the opening day of An Bord Pleanála’s oral hearing into proposals by waste management company Indaver Ireland to build a €160m incinerator in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

Planners insist “now is the time” to rubberstamp blue-prints for a new town on the outskirts of Cork City, warning the project founder they may “miss the boat” if the project is left until the economy improves.