A round-up of today's other regional news stories.
Clare council may 'freeze' zoned land
Clare County Council is expected to “freeze” more than 4,000 acres zoned for housing around Ennis in response to Department of the Environment concerns about “unjustified and unsustainable” overzoning in various parts of the country.
In a letter to the council, the department has set a deadline for it to address the overzoning for housing in the Ennis development plan. It has warned that if the council has not provided a solution by October 16th, Minister for the Environment John Gormley will “be forced to direct the council to make the necessary changes to the adopted plan with immediate effect”.
The Ennis area has a population of 28,700 and official forecasts say there will be an increase of only 6,300 by 2020.
Planning approved for Tralee ring road
An 13.5km ring road and bypass of the town of Tralee, the major part of it to be a dual carriageway which will carry almost 19,000 vehicles a day, has been given approval by An Bord Pleanála, writes
Anne Lucey.
The compulsory purchase order of land from almost 80 landowners has also been approved. The go-ahead follows an oral hearing in Tralee in January . It will involve a number of rail crossings as well as river and minor road crossings.
The approval has been widely welcomed as a means of easing congestion and reducing journey times. Yesterday a council spokesman welcomed the board's decision.
The total cost is expected to be in excess of €120 million.
Gardaí search business in child porn inquiry
Gardaí have searched a business premises in Co Louth and seized a number of computers as part of an investigation into the alleged possession of child pornography, writes
Elaine Keogh. The search was the culmination of an investigation that began in July and resulted in a search of the house of a man who works at the premises.
A computer was also removed from his home for forensic examination.
A file is expected to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.