Some people who died 10 years ago are still on the electoral register in county Cork and mystery surrounds why others who have been living at the same address for more than 30 years were suddenly taken off it, Cork County Council has heard.

A number of businesses in Macroom are facing disruption due to work to rebuild a fire-damaged theatre there.

An investigation into the electoral register in Co Cork is to be carried out after claims there were “nearly more dead people on it than the living”.

Ex-Fine Gael TD Áine Collins lost out on the final seat in the Macroom area as two party colleagues, Eileen Lynch and Ted Lucey completed a FG hatrick in the six-seater.

The population of the Macroom electoral area is 36,844 and, despite the removal of Blarney from the district into the city jurisdiction, the number of seats up for grabs there will remain at six.

A special committee of Cork County Council is to look at the possibility of setting up women’s refuges and ‘safe houses’ after an impassioned plea was made by a councillor who described how she was once a victim of domestic abuse.

Waiting times for driving tests in Cork are costing families of learner drivers a great deal of money because under newly-introduced legislation they are not allowed to drive on their own.

State grant insufficient to rebuild fire-gutted venue in Macroom

One of the most iconic theatre venues in the south of the country may not re-open until December 2019.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) may have to revisit the drawing board on a proposed flood-prevention scheme, after reportedly failing to factor in flooding incidents during a cost-benefit analysis.

“If this document was produced under British rule, it would have brought about revolution, and it should. This is a diktat we can’t accept.”

The roads’ authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), has parked proposals to name a major route in Cork City after the women who fought in the War of Independence.

A flood relief project screw-up has led to €100,000 being spent on a preliminary cost/benefit analysis to discover a proposed scheme, at a further €200,000, would not be value for money.

A united approach between local authorities in Cork and Kerry is being planned to lobby for a new road to improve connections between the counties.

Another sibling has joined the ranks of Cork County Council following the recent elections to the Dáil and Seanad.