More than €250,000 of taxpayers’ money has been spent on new velvet carpets for Leinster House after the improvements were “prioritised” over other services.

A new year, but sadly, the same old story for homes and businesses threatened by flooding in parts of Cork.

Flood-hit areas are facing more misery with further heavy rain due at least into the middle of next week, followed by another round of rising river levels and many more weeks of cleaning up ahead.

Every emotion was tested yesterday in some West Cork towns as Storm Frank left an indelible mark on businesses, homes and the community at large.

Following an enforced 20-day break due to the inclement weather conditions, point-to-point racing returned to the Cork and Waterford region on Saturday as the rescheduled Tallow meeting (run under the auspices of the West Waterford Foxhounds) took place at Shanakill Cross outside Conna.

The man credited with developing Westport, Co Mayo, into one of Ireland’s top tourist spots has told a West Cork town that residents “must make Bandon a great place to live and everything else will follow”.

Up to 50,000 Irish homes have either no flood cover or are at serious risk of losing it, while insurance companies operate a cartel to maximise their profits, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

As a pre-school teacher, I welcome Ministers Joan Burton’s and Frances Fitzgerald’s appeal for another preschool year.

Two community groups in Co Cork have expressed concern that “fish before people” red tape may prevent vital flood prevention works.

Dredging, underground pump stations and a new footbridge form part of a €10m plan to prevent flooding in a West Cork town for 100 years.

Minister for State at the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes has asked residents in flood-affected areas to help his department find out how many homeowners are being refused house insurance.

Traders and residents in a West Cork town are seeking commercial rate cuts and an easing of parking restrictions during a planned €6.5m drainage scheme works.

TRADERS and Bandon Town Council are at loggerheads about the extent of anti-flooding measures carried out in the year since the West Cork town suffered its worst flooding in 500 years.

ONE of the towns worst affected by November’s devastating floods yesterday moved a step closer to a full-scale flood relief scheme.

I FORGIVE Cork 2005 everything, for the brilliant production of The Merchant of Venice by the Corcadorca Theatre Company.