Senator Gallagher says a number of agricultural enterprises in the local region could provide a more natural alternative.

Minister of State Malcolm Noonan said the Attorney General had identified "serious legal issues" in the bill.

It will allow peat to be extracted from Irish bogs for use in the horticulture sector until a sustainable alternative is found.

Safeguarding Ireland is co-ordinating the country's first Adult Safeguarding awareness event tomorrow.

The Minister clarified that the criteria states the sector must be able to show that employees can't be sourced within Ireland or the EU.

The temporary scheme was set up following the end of the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive.

The green light for the extension has been given to Our Lady's Secondary School.

Minister Noonan told the Seanad that his Department had "received a detailed cost plan for the project"