for and was awarded a four-year grant under the Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) Grant Program. Since arts integration was first implemented at Bates, the percentage of students achieving or surpassing standards for reading…The proposed expansion of Cork city could have as devastating effect on rural communities in Co Cork as Brexit could have on the Irish economy, Michael Collins TD has warned.

Mr Collins, a member of the Rural Alliance of Independent TDs, has tabled a motion for debate in the Dáil on what he says will be the detrimental effect that implementing the recommendations made in the Mackinnon report will have on Cork County Council’s ability to fund services in rural communities throughout the county.

The report, prepared by a group reviewing local government in Cork and chaired by former Chief Planner for Scotland, Jim Mackinnon, recommended an expansion of Cork city that would see its size increase seven fold and its population grow from 125,000 to 225,000.

The Mackinnon report recommended