A JUMP in the availability of cocaine and heroin, a ready supply of those willing to peddle drugs to vulnerable young people, waiting lists for treatment services and counselling are just some of the problems facing the city of Waterford, and many other towns and cities, as they battle against the consequences of drug taking.

WATERFORD is to receive a major boost with work to begin immediately on a huge revamp of accommodation and services for residents in the city.

A TRUST set up to help three children orphaned following a fire at their home at the start of the summer is about to close. Those who still intend to pledge money to the appeal are urged to do so as soon as possible.

PAT O’REGAN greets the photograph of his dead son every morning.

A BIG-HEARTED Dubliner who wants to remain anonymous has donated €20,000 to an appeal to help three children orphaned in a fire at their home.

A WATERFORD city suburb is to get a whole new lease of life, with €30 million to be spent on the area over the next two years.

HEARTBROKEN neighbours, friends and complete strangers have rallied together in Waterford city to raise funds for three children orphaned after a blaze at their home.

TWO major housing projects worth €100 million have been sanctioned by Cork County Council, while Bord Pleanála has given the green light to another large development.

LOCAL groups in Waterford whose work focuses on the disadvantaged, young people and the elderly are being urged to apply for their share of a €24 million fund which is being made available by the Government from the dormant accounts fund.

Nine men who were arrested after gardaí swooped on a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in the Comeragh mountains were jailed by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Gardaí discovered four guns, a makeshift firing range and targets when they raided a suspected Continuity IRA training camp at a clearing in the Comeragh mountains, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Nine men arrested after gardaí swooped on a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in Co Waterford in 2003 pleaded guilty to firearms offences at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

ONLY 26 local authority houses were completed in Waterford city last year, even though more than 2,000 people are currently on housing waiting lists.

Gardaí say they need the public’s help to combat public disorder in Waterford, says South-East Correspondent Niamh Nolan.

Eight men arrested when gardaí swooped on a suspected Continuity IRA training camp in Co Waterford last August were further charged with new offences when they appeared at the Special Criminal Court today.

A group of men charged in connection with a suspected Continuity IRA training camp were deer stalking in preparation for the new hunting season, a court was told today.

Eight men were charged tonight in connection with a Garda surveillance operation of a wooded area of Co Waterford.