Residents in north Co Dublin are preparing to fight the Government’s attempts to locate a new super prison in their area, writes John Breslin.

OPPOSITION politicians last night questioned the payment of €150,000 to an agent involved in finding and buying the site of a new prison in north Dublin.

A COMMITTEE appointed to decide the location of a new super prison and central mental hospital only heard of the agreed site on the day the decision was made, just a week before Justice Minister Michael McDowell made his announcement.

LANDOWNERS can look forward to a bumper 2003, as builders resume buying land for housing and millions of euros are on offer for zoned land.