A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Whales washed up on Donegal beach to be incinerated
A major logistical exercise is to be launched after it was decided to incinerate 33 whales washed up on a Co Donegal beach, writes Stephen Maguire.
It had been originally planned to bury the pod of pilot whales on Rutland Island where they beached 10 days ago. But local people objected to Donegal County Council’s plan, claiming it posed health risks.
Area manager John Gallagher and council officials met yesterday and have decided to seek a licence to incinerate the whales at a facility in Co Cavan. It is understood ferries will take the remains from the island and trucks will then transport them to Cavan. According to council sources, the operation will take place as soon as possible, possibly on Thursday.
Although Rutland Island is uninhabited during winter, there are a number of holiday homes on the island. Its 1.2km (0.75 mile) beach is also home to protected species of wildlife.
Electrical fault blamed for cathedral fire
For the second time in recent years a fire has caused damage at St Mary's Cathedral in Killarney. The outbreak was in the sacristy area at the rear and the main body of the cathedral was not affected.
The fire was spotted when sacristan Tadgh Fleming tried to enter the sacristy to prepare for the 10.30am Mass. Three units of the Killarney fire service attended the scene and gardaí sealed off roadways. An earlier fire, caused by candles, closed the cathedral for weeks and a new safety regime was put in place. An electrical fault is being blamed for this blaze.
Levy plan for rural housing applicants
Council management in Co Kerry is proposing to impose a levy on applicants for rural housing,
writes Anne Lucey.
The levy would be to cover the cost of roads and footpaths, playgrounds and public lighting.
The new levy of more than €1,000 a year would be in addition to water and sewerage charges, which have been reduced somewhat.
However, councillors in the county seem opposed to the idea.
Cllr Danny Healy-Rae said it was "a severe penalty" on rural dwellers and he believed it was designed "to turn people off " building new houses in the countryside.
"They want people to buy up the ghost estates," Mr Healy-Rae said.
The proposal is going out to tender.