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Hotel plan appealed

An appeal has been lodged against Cork City Council's decision to approve revised plans by Quakeside Ltd for a hotel and office development on Cork city's Morrison Quay. cork1119

Before it approved Quakeside Ltd's revised plans for the proposed development last month, Cork City Council had previously granted Quakeside Ltd permission to proceed with the construction of a development that would include a hotel and office space on Cork's Morrison Quay, however, the decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála by a third party.

Consequently, the original planning application was withdrawn and revised plans for the proposed development were subsequently submitted to Cork City Council, which the council approved in September.

However Shane Healy and Maurice O'Connor of Healy O'Connor Solicitors, which has an office near the site of the proposed hotel and office development on Finton Street, have now appealed Cork City Council's decision to approve Quakeside Ltd's revised plans to An Bord Pleanála.

A decision on the appeal is due to be made by February of 2021.

€10m support for coach tours

A €10million fund to help coach tourism businesses deal with the devastating impact of COVID-19 opens today for applications. coach1020

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin T.D., secured funding for the Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme as part of the Government’s Jobs Stimulus Package.

The scheme is being administered by Fáilte Ireland and the deadline for applications is 5th November 2020.

Minister Catherine Martin said:

“This investment of €10million is another key action the Government has taken to support and sustain the tourism sector at this critical time. The Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme will provide coach tourism businesses with a direct financial contribution to help support them with future operational and continuity plans.”

Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, added:

McNamara wants airport testing

Reacting to the news that Ryanair is to close its bases in Cork and Shannon for the winter, Independent TD Michael McNamara has said the Government needs to introduce a mlmcnamara0320

system of rapid testing at airports in the short term and must also develop a new State aviation policy to ensure international transit carriers do not fly exclusively into Dublin.

“While I understand that Ryanair will continue to operate some scheduled services to and from Shannon over the winter period, the direct impact of today's announcement on 55 Ryanair workers and affiliated businesses across the West of Ireland is profound,” said Deputy McNamara.

“Shannon and those who rely on it for connectivity need the introduction of testing just as many airports across Europe have implemented to enable their aviation sector to function,” he added. “We have a larger aviation sector than most other European countries and we are more reliant on-air connectivity than most other States, yet our Government has introduced policies that have compounded the issues the sector is experiencing. The wider implications of these policies are having a significant impact on our broader economy, for Foreign Direct Investment and for tourism.

Hostelworld revenues plunge

Shares in online booking platform Hostelworld fell by as much as 26pc in London yesterday, before paring back those losses to end 18pc lower after the company said it expects

revenues for this year to plunge as much as 84pc from 2019 levels.

Last year the company reported revenues of €80.7m.

Hostelworld, which has been badly hit by Covid-19 travel restrictions, now expects full year net bookings to be in the range of 20pc–22pc of last year’s total.

In a trading update, the company said it saw a very modest recovery in domestic bookings in late June as well as short haul bookings into Europe in July and early August as travel restrictions were eased.

Sighting of missing 'Fungie' brings hope

Kerry's famous dolphin Fungie may have been spotted by a fishing boat near Dingle harbour last night. fungie

Fungie boat operators say they will carry out a search later this morning.

The bottlenose dolphin has not been seen since Wednesday.

A number of boats have been involved in searches for the dolphin at the mouth of Dingle harbour.

Local boatman Jimmy Flannery said: "We have a report that he was seen following a fishing boat out the mouth of the harbour early on Wednesday morning but he hasn't been seen since," he said.