City and county councils are biased in favour of granting planning permission to developments due to the revenues completed projects bring in, a new report concludes.

Donegal has the worst planning record in the country, An Taisce has claimed.

Health Minister James Reilly has announced the make-up of the review group to consider the decision of an Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the National Children's Hospital.

The Health Minister James Reilly has said Nama had offered 11 different sites for a new National Children's Hospital.

The refusal of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission to build a graveyard and crematorium near the Dublin Mountains is being challenged in the High Court.

The High Court has cleared the way for a legal challenge to An Bord Pleanala's decision to approve planning permission for a largescale retail development in Ballincollig,Co Cork.

By Aodhan O'Faolain and Ray Managh

ACC Bank has told the High Court that it will challenge a ruling yesterday in the Northern Ireland High Court declaring a Co Wicklow businessman a bankrupt.

German retail chain Lidl has secured a High Court order to stop the locks being changed on a Dublin premises where they plan to build a new foodstore.

An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, has today welcomed An Bord Pleanála's refusal of plans for a controversial bypass around Slane village.

The Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has said the group tasked with examining options for the new National Children's Hospital will report back to him on May 2.

An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for the Slane bypass in Co Meath.

The Minister for Health James Reilly has said he has ruled nothing out in terms of a location for the new National Children's Hospital, including building on a greenfield site.

The proposed National Children's Hospital will be up for discussion once again at today's weekly cabinet meeting.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly said today that he understands that people want some certainty about the future of the National Children's Hospital project.

It is hoped that more than 200 construction jobs will be created in Dublin thanks to the re-development of Liberty Hall.

Tallaght hospital is more suitable to house the new national children's hospital now than it was when first considered years ago, according to a former Vice Chairman of the Board of the hospital.

The Health Minister has said he hopes to have a report from an expert group on the options for a new National Children's Hospital within weeks.

The Government has insisted it remains 100% committed to the long-awaited national children’s hospital as it ordered experts to explain why planners rejected the Mater site.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised a new national children's hospital will be built in the lifetime of the Government.