PROMOTERS of major transport and energy projects which are due to enjoy a new fast-tracked planning process will still face oral planning hearings to allow local communities voice their opinions.

SWEDISH furniture giant IKEA was yesterday given the go-ahead to open a massive outlet in Ballymun, north Dublin.

BAD planning by local authorities means towns will soon need new roads to bypass their bypasses, one of the country’s leading planning officials has warned.

With the daily tribunal disclosures, it should hardly come as a surprise to people that our planning laws are developing into a farce.

UNIVERSITY College Cork is seeking to add two extra floors to a €60 million IT building on which construction recently started, despite a lack of full clearance for its funding.

A NUMBER of schemes earmarked for small villages have been refused planning permission by Cork County Council.

LOCAL residents have claimed the scale of the proposed new stadium at Lansdowne Road is too large and designed merely to incorporate highly lucrative conference facilities.

PLANS for a €20 million biodiesel plant in Cork were shot down by An Bórd Pleanála yesterday.

THE oral hearing which will decide whether the €365 million redevelopment of Lansdowne Road can go ahead will start in Dublin this morning.

THE €40 million redevelopment of Thomond Park is facing a long planning delay.

A GROWING number of objections against planning for new school buildings or extensions are holding up progress on Government investment, Education Minister Mary Hanafin has warned.

ANOTHER child almost drowned in the pond which claimed the life of little Glen McNamara Twomey, it emerged yesterday.

ANOTHER child almost drowned in the pond which claimed the life of Glen McNamara Twomey, it emerged yesterday.

THE Department of the Marine is taking a man to the High Court for ignoring its ultimatum to remove unauthorised marine structures from a West Cork bay.

MAJOR construction projects in Cork are in jeopardy after a €200 million housing development was shot down in a shock planning decision yesterday.

CORK County Council may be facing a substantial bill for damages following a landmark ruling against a concrete firm which has been operating a massive facility without planning permission.

RETAIL giant Lidl sparked a bitter row yesterday by accusing three councillors of interfering in the planning process for political reasons.

HOUSE-HUNTERS are facing a price increase this year because demand is outstripping supply, while a shortage of zoned land is adding to the difficulties.

COUNCILLORS forced a housing plan with a controversial entrance back to the drawing board last night.