Concerns over security at Castlerea prison, Co Roscommon, were highlighted in the region's press after a suicide and an escape in the space of a week. Two investigations into security issues at the facility are underway, reported the Roscommon Champion.
The first examines the escape of a remand prisoner through a bathroom window while being treated at Roscommon General Hospital.
Four days earlier a prisoner from Foxrock, Co Dublin, who was under special observation, was found hanging in his cell.
A PD councillor, Mr Hugh Lynn, has called for a major review of security. This would prevent a "Terry Duckworth-style" escape, referring to a character in Coronation Street, said the Roscommon Herald.
Councillor Lynn also said the Garda, the Prisons Service and the Western Health Board must now arrange a more secure place in the hospital to deal with prisoners.
As local papers reported the beginning of the annual Garda campaign against drink driving, the Longford Leader and Longford News reported a Special Traffic Unit of four full-time garda∅ opening in the county.
It "will be devoted full time to the enforcement of traffic regulation in the county," said Supt Joe Sullivan. The Leader said Longford had the second highest accident rate in the country last year.
Under the headline, "From Garden County to Garbage County", the Wicklow People devoted almost two pages to a special sitting of Wicklow County Council to discuss recent revelations about illegal dumping in the county. "The image of Wicklow as the premier tourist county in the country has now been shattered by the reports of illegal dumping," Mr Liam Kavanagh was reported as saying.
Westmeath County Council has said there are no "active" illegal dumps in the county, the Westmeath Examiner reported.
Mr Barry Kehoe, senior engineer with the council accepted that Westmeath's proximity to the capital could increase the risk of illegal dumping there, said the paper.
It quoted Senator Donie Cassidy, who said illegal dumping does not seem to be a problem in north Westmeath, but it would be disastrous for the "Lake District of Ireland" if it were to be blighted in the future.
To combat further incidents, the council has set up a freephone number for people to report incidents of illegal dumping.
The Drogheda Independent reported there could be 720 asylum seekers living in Mosney holiday centre - up from 450 now - by June next year.
The Irish Refugee Council attacked the move, claiming the Government is "creating a ghetto". The Department of Justice, the paper reported, said the number of residents would be capped at 500.
The Laois Nationalist describes the reinterment of the remains of 11 young people in a local cemetery as "one of the most unusual exercises ever carried out in Portlaoise" .
Archaeological excavations uncovered the bodies a few years ago, when an old jail and courthouse were being renovated. No evidence was found to confirm "speculation that they were the bodies of people executed in penal times in the old jail".