ROADS: The National Development Plan (NDP) launched in November 1999 proposed an investment of €5.6 billion on national road improvement between 2000 and 2006. At the end of 2003, it was estimated that this programme would cost not €5.6 billion but €16.4 billion. That is an overrun of €10.8 billion. For 2005, the projected capital expenditure for all projects (roads, hospitals, schools etc) was €6 billion.
The government and gardaí have failed to implement the expansion of the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) in the eleven months since it was announced and promised, at that time, in a "matter of months". On 23 September 2004 Brian Lenihan, Minister for State for Children, announced the addition of 17 staff to the GCVU in order to extend vetting procedures to all persons working with children and vunerable adults. This meant the staff would almost double giving a total of 30 people working for the vetting unit.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs has saved €206 million in anti-fraud measures during the first six months of this year. This is an increase of €30 million on the last six months of 2004. Savings in unemployment payments realised the most at almost €66 million; €52 million in one-parent family payments; €36 million in illness payments.
A new "group" calling itself the Irish 9/11 Truth Movement has been bombarding TDs with emails, taking a stand outside the Dáil and being removed from the premises at RTÉ.
He's got a Fianna Fáil background, a solid Dáil seat and no beard for 20 years. Mary Regan meets the Cork man who is not your stereotypical Green politician
The Progressive Democrats could cause a major crisis in the coalition over the Colombia Three, writes Vincent Browne
The Government is contributing funds to a scheme in Colombia which critics say is strengthening the power of right-wing paramilitaries. This is just the latest in Ireland's increasing role in global conflict, writes Michael McCaughan
TD WATCH/Finian McGrath: Simon Community Volunteer, primary school principal and You're a Star finalist. Mary Regan profiles the Independent whose song and dance could secure him a lot more votes
New report will examine whether gardaí fabricated the confession of Dean Lyons to the murder of Sylvia Shiels and Mary Cullinan. By Vincent Browne
Fianna Fáil are at the races. At the Galway Races for the annual, elite
fund-raising circus, at the races in spin, with the Government claiming to have met most of its election commitments while breaking almost all key commitments, and at the races in the next election with pundits predicting Bertie Ahern will be Taoiseach again (see page 16).