The Taoiseach says Team Ireland has “done the country proud”.

The Irish athletes that competed at the London 2012 Olympic games are returning home today with 5 medals following the best performance by Ireland since Melbourne in 1956.

An official homecoming ceremony for the team will not take place until lunchtime on Wednesday at the Mansion House in Dublin.

However open-bus top parades will take place later today in Katie Taylor’s native Bray in Co. Wicklow and John-Joe Nevin’s home town of Mullingar in Co. Westmeath.

Belfast boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon will be welcomed home at the Titanic museum in Belfast with a parade through the city centre tomorrow.

Enda Kenny says he admires all of Team Ireland greatly for what they have done and he says they are all winners.

“Done the country proud and I admire everyone of them” he said.

“On behalf of the people, I thank then for their efforts; the fact that they are termed and deemed to be Olympians is something that nobody can take from them, and they will carry it with them for the rest of their days”.

“To them all, I say well done and thank you on behalf of our country” he added.

In Britain the man accused of murdering schoolgirl Tia Sharp has been remanded to custody after appearing at court this morning.

Stuart Hazell appeared from Sutton police station by video-link at the court this morning and is reported to have been visibly upset.

The 37-year-old’s voice cracked when he was asked to confirm his address at New Addington in south London where Tia was found dead following a second search at the house.

Reporter Martin Brunt is at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

“Because the Magistrates don’t have the power to deal with it, they’re remanding it to the Old Bailey” he said.

“The up-shot of what’s happened in the last few minutes is that he will appear again, by video-ink, at the Old Bailey in 2 days time” he added.

Motorists in the Midlands and south are being advised to exercise extreme caution this lunchtime after a morning of downpours and thunderstorms.

Lightning strikes have led to delays on some rail services while in one of the worst affected areas cars are reportedly under water at Johnstown in Co. Laois.

Elsewhere officials in Waterford have had to close a road east of Cappoquin following a landslide.

Arwen Foley from AA Roadwatch says drivers need to take it easy.

“Flooding is still a major problem in the Midlands, but there is a slight improvement in Munster as the rain heads north” she said.

“We are asking motorists to reduce their speed, and only drive through water if you know it’s not too deep for your car”.

“Be mindful of more vulnerable people on the roads – so cyclists, pedestrians and even other cars on the road as well” she added.

The National Parents Council has launched the Exam Helpline 2012.

It is designed to offer advice information and support to Leaving Certificate students who get their exam results on Wednesday.

The helpline is staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and will open from 10am on results day.

Anyone looking for advice including students, parents and teachers can call 1800-265-165 from Wednesday morning.

A city for women only is to be built in Saudi Arabia.

It is to provide a working environment that is in line with the strict customs of the kingdom.

It is the first of several planned for the region.

Newstalk’s Jack Quann has more.