Hours of behind-the-scenes talks have prevented plans for a major new town in Co Cork from being scuppered.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced a review of An Bord Pleanála, aimed at ensuring that the planning body is adequately supported to meet future challenges.

Clare County Council recently voted through the incorporation of the Northern Distributor Road and the re-zoning of lands in south east Clare into the Clare County Development Plan.

Property Industry Ireland (PII) has called for the Vat rate on houses to be cut from 13.5% to 9% for two years in order to address the “acute” lack of supply of affordable owner-occupied, rental, and social housing.

Two appeals to An Bord Pleanála will delay the start of the €50m regeneration of the derelict former Capitol cinema site in Cork City by at least four months.

Shell Ireland has officially applied to the Government for permission to operate the controversial pipeline from the Corrib gas field off the coast of Mayo.

The Port of Waterford has dropped plans to seek a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning for the Port of Cork’s €100 million expansion at Ringaskiddy.

The landmark One Albert Quay office block, nearing completion in Cork’s docklands, is poised to become one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in Europe.

The decision to award planning permission to the Port of Cork’s €100m redevelopment of Ringaskiddy harbour has been met with mixed reaction from local representatives in the area.

Planning permission is expected to be lodged in September for a €10m FAI regional centre for soccer excellence in Co Cork.

An Bord Pleanala, in permitting The Port of Cork to move its container port, in Tivoli, to Ringaskiddy, has overturned its own decision of seven years ago not to grant permission, and has now overruled its own inspector, who had recommended refusal.

Tommy Barker says now that Cork harbour has rediscovered its mojo, so too will properties like Simla.

Three schools in the Wicklow town of Greystones have put on hold plans by McDonald’s to build a new fast food outlet there.

Suneil Sharma is a businessman not known to the wider Limerick public. While Limerick has been very good to Mr Sharma, some, specifically Limerick City and County Council, Limerick Chamber of Commerce and the Limerick Business Association are beginning to question if Mr Sharma will be as good for Limerick.

A single farmer in Co Mayo has won the right to be buried on his own land.

An environmental group has secured leave to appeal against the rejection of its challenge to a grant of permission for a wind farm in Co Laois.

An “earth sheltered dwelling” at Reenbeg, a prominent headland overlooking Dingle harbour, has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.

Limerick City planners have been left red-faced over their objection to two neighbours restoring their roofs to their original red slate colour.

Wind turbines may be required to be a minimum of 700 metres from residential dwellings under proposals being considered by Environment Minister Alan Kelly.

The State’s best known marriage counselling service has put the brakes on plans to redevelop the €70m Garda regional headquarters site on Harcourt Street in Dublin.