A housing estate in Kilcock is set to be connected to the public water mains, ending the need for individuals to gain their water from an on-site well.

Building work is finally set to start on a sector of houses in the Cloughjordan Eco Village project as planning permission has been approved for a quarter of the environmentally-friendly homes.

Some €50m is set to be invested in a wind farm project that is hoped will be in operation in 2011 in the west of Ireland, reports the Irish Times.

In a bid to attract more low energy companies to Ireland, further tax breaks and grants are set to be recommended by a new government action group, reports the Sunday Business Post.

Moves are to be made to introduce a phased ban on the energy-inefficient lightbulbs currently available in Ireland.