NEWLY discovered 2,000-year-old ruins at the ancient Hill of Tara site must be fully preserved because of their unique size and character, according to a US academic.

A FEAR that damage might be caused to an important spawning river in Kerry was one of the reasons given by An Bord Pleanála for turning down a planning application for a multi-million euro development, it emerged at the weekend.

A PLANNING decision on a multi-million-euro revamp of one of Dublin city centre’s busy shopping areas has been delayed.

A COMMUNITY group has reacted angrily to an announcement that Indaver Ireland is seeking planning permission for a €130 million incinerator for household and commercial waste.

OPPONENTS of a planned five-storey hotel in Cashel on a site previously earmarked for a town park are holding a public meeting tonight in a bid to step up their campaign.

ONE OF the promoters of a proposed animal by-products processing plant in south Tipperary said he was confident that the facility would get enough raw materials to function.

TOO many one-off rural houses are getting planning permission on sites unable to deal with the sewage that would be generated by the occupants, the country’s leading planning officials have warned.

RECORD numbers of planning disputes are causing growing delays in decisions on contentious developments.

SO, An Bord Pleanála have confirmed what anyone with even a passing interest in Ireland’s disappearing countryside has known for at least a decade.

THE Government has been accused of double standards after Enterprise Ireland yesterday began research into the potential for conversion of biomass and waste products into fuels and energy.

A RESIDENTS’ challenge by to a €75 million plan for the State’s first hazardous waste incinerator in Co Cork will be profoundly affected by the European Commission’s decision to bring a legal action against Ireland, the High Court was told yesterday.

AN astonishing 7,000 people signed a petition supporting it, and now it appears the people of Kanturk are going to get their way.

THE need for adequate water and sewerage schemes in Kenmare has been highlighted by a decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a 14-house development in the fast-growing tourist town, it emerged yesterday.

Donal Hickey looks at how we can protect Irish villages

PASSENGERS at the congested Dublin Airport will see the benefit of €450 million of improvements as early as next year, airport bosses said last night.

AN BORD PLEANÁLA has given the go-ahead to the controversial incinerator project in Environment Minister John Gormley’s constituency, causing an immense headache for the Green Party leader.

PROPOSALS for the largest single housing development outside of Dublin, estimated to be worth €875 million, have been turned down by local authority planners.

THERE is no doubt now that the granting of permission for the Poolbeg incinerator was out of the control of An Bórd Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A DECISION by Kerry County Council to grant planning permission for a cafe on the Great Blasket opens the way for the state’s purchase of the island.

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley is now reportedly calling for increased road tax on vehicles over 1600cc in an unimaginative attempt to discourage people from using larger vehicles while he at the same time supports his Government’s equally unenlightened roads programme.