There is no better testament to the Easter Rising than to begin building the new national children’s hospital next year on one of its most famous battle sites, the South Dublin Union, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said yesterday.

The signs summed up the story: “Our Road Is A Mess — We Want Progress.’.

A local authority has called in the country’s top planning referee to decide if two suburban neighbours should get a yellow card over painting their roofs red.

Gardaí suspect an arson attack on a house may be linked to a planning objection which has sparked furious debate in a Co Cork town.

The public will have a chance to express its view on Ireland’s future power network after EirGrid asked for submissions on its new draft strategy.

Cork City Council is awaiting further information from developers of the proposed reworking for residential use of a former bakery site in Togher.

Cork County Council officials have disclosed they are still intent on developing a 5,000-house town at Monard near Blarney.

An East Cork community is to lobby the Government for special heritage status for sites of interest in the area, which hosts a bomb factory dating from the War of Independence.

The Port of Cork’s plans for a €100m redevelopment of its cargo-handling facilities at Ringaskiddy have been hit with a further delay.

Cork county councillors will send a blunt “hands off” message to a minister that they won’t tolerate him interfering in their decision to ban industrial incinerators in certain areas.

Despite objections from environmentalists, councillors have voted unanimously in favour of a contentious new access road to Killarney National Park.

Plans to redevelop Ireland’s most expensive house, bought by developer Sean Dunne and his wife Gayle Killilea for €58m in 2005, have been rejected.

Residents of an East Cork community fear their locality may be chosen for a third Eirgrid development after the State-owned electricity operator indicated it would be carrying out tests in the area for a potential international connection with the continent.

Cork City Council has allowed retention permission for the use of an old city-centre schoolyard as an ancillary to a pub.

Latest planning notes and updates January 2015

A High Court challenge has been brought against An Bord Pleanála’s decision to allow developers demolish the former hospital where Michael Collins’ body was taken after he was shot at Beal na Blath in August 1922.

An Bord Pleanála has received three appeals against plans to construct a major retail outlet on a derelict site in Youghal.

A site is still being sought in Dublin for a memorial to victims of institutional abuse, after a €31,000 spend on an earlier unsuccessful plan.

A sum of €4.35m, set aside this year by the National Roads Authority (NRA) for upgrading the N86 Tralee to Dingle road, will now be spent in another part of the country.

A call has been made for more research into the impact of wind turbines on hen harriers in upland areas along the borders of counties Cork, Limerick, and Kerry.