Planners are confident of getting the green light from An Bord Pleanála to build a new town in Co Cork, despite the current economic climate.

Cork County Council is to spend €50m creating a new town which will ultimately have more than 5,000 houses, shops, four national schools, a secondary school and railway station.

CORK County Council is planning to develop walkways, landing areas and information boards as part of the first phase of developing Spike Island as a major tourist destination.