In Short

A round-up of today's other news stories in brief.

A round-up of today's other news stories in brief.

Family of missing boy make appeal

The family of missing Dublin schoolboy Philip Cairns have made a fresh appeal for help or information about the case.

The 13-year-old schoolboy disappeared while walking back to school in Rathfarnham 20 years ago today. Despite extensive investigations, Philip was not found. Six days after his disappearance, however, his schoolbag was found.

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Speaking on behalf of the family yesterday, Philip's younger brother Eoin appealed for anyone with information about his brother's disappearance to get in touch with the gardaí.

Planners call for rezoning body

The Irish Planning Institute has called for the establishment of a planning inspectorate to which land rezonings may be appealed.

The call follows complaints by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) that too much unserviced land is rezoned by councillors, often against the advice of qualified planners.

The institute said the decisions of elected councillors on zoning should be subject to independent scrutiny by a national inspectorate.

Society 'depends on volunteers'

Ways of supporting people who wish to volunteer in their community must be identified, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.

He said the well-being of our society depended on people getting involved in such activities as coaching young people in sports or helping elderly neighbours.

He was addressing the General Assembly of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps in Dublin yesterday.