Street and other violence continues to cause concern in the regional papers. The Echo and South Leinster Advertiser carries a front-page story with the headline: "80 per cent hike in public-order crimes."
The report by Simon Bourke says: "Public-order arrests in Enniscorthy are up by a staggering 80 per cent since the licensing laws were liberalised 15 months ago. Drink-driving arrests are up by 20 per cent this year so far and there has been a marked increase in the incidence of domestic violence in the town."
"The shock figures were revealed by Supt Pat Delaney, who was in Wexford Circuit Court this week to outline Garda objections to 2.30 p.m. bar extensions for night-clubs."
The Wexford Echo carries front-page coverage of a court case in which a bouncer at a hotel in Rosslare Strand received a suspended prison sentence after assaulting two men with two baseball bats when an altercation developed at a disco. The accused had offered £15,000 by way of compensation and a two-year prison sentence was suspended.
The lead headline in the Ulster Herald declares: "Violence behind closed doors." The report by Jacqueline Courtney tells us: "Police were called out to 534 domestic incidents in Omagh and district last year. More than 300 of these incidents involved violence in the home environment."
" Town centre an alarming picture of vandalism, unrest, drunkenness," a Sligo Champion headline reads. The report says: "A Sligo-based businessman has warned of what he describes as "an alarming picture of vandalism, civil unrest and drunkenness' in the town centre.
"Mr Wilhelm Bodewigs, managing director of the Health Build Consultancy, whose offices were vandalised recently, has criticised the local authority for having no concept of safety and attractiveness for the older streets."
In Kerry there is considerable concern about the tourism trade. The Kerryman contains a front-page headline: "Kerry tourism industry faces fight to survive."
A report underneath by Ted Creedon says: "Bord Fβilte is predicting a drop of 200,000 overseas visitors to Kerry next year, a seminar heard this week - and a major tour operator has also predicted that many tourism-based businesses in the county may not survive the current crisis.
"Shannon-based Castle Tours MD, Pat Crowley, told a tourism seminar in Dingle his company gets feedback from North American agents on an almost daily basis and the news is not good."
An Taisce comes in for criticism from some quarters.
The Kildare Nationalist, in a report by Jane Mullins, says: "An Taisce has been roundly criticised by politicians for its policy of objecting to single rural houses within Co Kildare.
"Already the heritage body has appealed 16 granted permissions for individual homes to An Bord Pleanβla. This policy is costing people money and serious time delays, say Kildare councillors, who say that the policy on granting permission for rural homes is adhered to within Kildare."
The Leitrim Observer leads its front page with the headline: "Council attack on An Taisce's objectionist policy." The report, by Donal O'Grady, says: "Members of Leitrim County Council were scathing in their attack on An Taisce during their recent meeting to discuss the Estimate of Expenses for 2002. "In a debate on Planning and Development, members and the county manager questioned the rural planning policy of An Taisce which, they said, goes against what is engrained in our culture".
"Cllr Mary Bohan is quoted as saying that she couldn't see, for the life of her, what An Taisce were on about in relation to the siting of houses in rural areas in a county where the population density is 16 people per square km, when the national average is 52 per square km."
The Tallaght Echo carries a front-page report and photograph over a report by Ray Managh about a young boy who fell and cut his throat on a fireguard in his home.
The boy's mother was suing Roche's Stores where the fireguard was bought and the manufacturers. Counsel said the boy's neck had been lacerated but the sharp edge (of the fireguard) had narrowly missed vital arteries.
A sum of £25,000 had been offered by way of compensation by the defendants.
Waste disposal is a constant concern for the regional papers. The Wicklow People gives front-page prominence to the problem. It reports: "Wicklow County Council officials say they expect to find further potentially hazardous material in some of the 96 suspected illegal dumps around the county currently under investigation.
"And those responsible have been warned that they will be hunted down as the local authority attempts to stamp out the rash of illegal dumping that is blighting the county."
The Bray People reports: "A question mark hangs over the future of Bray UDC's domestic refuse collection service.
"Town council bosses recommend that hiking the price of the refuse bags from £1.75 to £3.52 is the only way to make the service break even."
The Southern Star has a front-page headline: "Corporation not pulling its weight in waste strategy."
The report by Frank O'Donovan says: "County councillors accused Cork Corporation of not pulling its weight on the joint Waste Management Strategy following the announcement that Cork County Council was to buy a site near Carrigtwohill for a Materials Recovery Facility.
"County Manager, Maurice Moloney, told councillors that each household in the county would have to pay an extra £30 for waste collection if the council had to operate the facility without Cork Corporation input."