A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Funds sought for autism in Galway
The parents of children and adults with autism in Galway are seeking funding to open three homes belonging to the city's services which have been empty for many years, writes Michelle McDonagh.
Due to a lack of Government funding, a six-bedroom house, purchased by the local autism services at Laurel Park, Newcastle, in 1985, has been idle for 20 years.
It was to have been developed as a multi-disciplinary assessment centre.
A residential home at Clybawn Heights and a respite home at Cluain Airne on the Clybawn Road have also been empty for years because there is no staff to run them.
Yet people from Galway with autism are forced to live in group homes in Dublin and other parts of the country.
"A lot of people think autism just relates to children, schooling and early intervention, but it doesn't go away; it's lifelong and there's no cure for it," said Dermot McHugh, a parent of seven-year-old autistic twin boys.
Autism Services West has now applied for funding to develop new places for adults at the group home in Clybawn and to open the second house in Clybawn as a respite centre.
It is also seeking funds to open an assessment and day-centre at Tigh Ronain in Laurel Park.
Organic waste plant refused
Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for an organic waste plant near the Galway- Roscommon border.
This is the second time the planning appeals board has overturned a decision by Roscommon County Council for a composting and anaerobic digestion facility near Cloonfad.
A local action group opposing the development welcomed the decision yesterday saying it cleared the way for further enhancement of a number of scenic walks in the area.
At the end of March Organic Kompost received planning permission for the facility which would cater for 125,000 tonnes of organic material per year for recycling and recovery purposes.
A similar proposal was refused by An Bord Pleanála in 2001.
Local businessmen James Fitzgerald and Martin Smyth, who were behind the development, said the plant would be a major step forward for the people of north Galway and south Roscommon.
But Concerned Residents from Mid-Connacht said the development would have devastated the area.
Picket on ESB Cork depot lifted
An unofficial picket on the ESB's main depot in Cork by up to 20 apprentice electricians was lifted yesterday morning after local management agreed to meet those involved to discuss a number of grievances they have over recruitment to the company.
The protest which began at 7.15am saw large numbers of staff at the ESB's Wilton Depot refuse to pass the unofficial picket.
According to one of those involved in the protest, Shane Corkery, the dispute concerns temporary network technicians who undertook a four-year apprenticeship to become electricians with the ESB as a means of getting permanent jobs with the company.
Some 13 people completed the four-year apprenticeship but only three have been offered jobs.
The others learned two weeks ago that there was no longer any work for them with the company, he said.
An ESB spokesman condemned the unofficial action and said that it was completely outside the agreed procedures.
Local management agreed to meet with those involved in the action once they lifted the unofficial picket and had agreed to look at a number of issues that the group raised during discussions yesterday morning, said the ESB spokesman.