Environment - Thurles Information

Local Authorities Must Prioritise Environmental Protection.

Local Authorities Must Prioritise Environmental Protection To Improve Air, Water Quality & Increase Waste Recycling.

Local Authorities play a vital role in protecting our environment and carried out over 197,000 environmental inspections in 2022.
Local authorities need to prioritise enforcement of the roll-out and use of 3-bin systems to improve segregation of household and commercial waste.
More local authority farm inspections and follow-up enforcement is needed to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on water quality.
Local authorities must ensure that only approved solid fuels are available for sale, to safeguard public health from harmful air pollutants.
Local authorities need to prioritise and resource environmental functions to deliver the national enforcement priorities.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2022. The report shows that the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities is significant. Over 520 local authority staff handled almost 70,000 complaints and carried out over 197,000 environmental inspections.

The EPA assessed the performance of each local authority against each of the 20 national enforcement priorities (NEPs). These fall into four main themes:

Waste.
Water Quality.
Air and Noise.
Governance Processes.

Ten local authorities achieved the required standard in 70 per cent or more of the assessments. These were Kildare, Meath, Fingal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan, Dublin City, Carlow and Cork County. This is up from five local authorities the previous year.

Four local authorities achieved the required standard in only 30 per cent or less of their assessments. These were Waterford, Offaly, Kilkenny and Wexford.

Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “Local authorities have a vital statutory responsibility in the protection of our local environment and are responsible for enforcing much of our environmental protection legislation. While the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities is significant, in many areas it is not delivering the necessary environmental outcomes such as improved water and air quality and waste segregation.”

Unfortunately, many key environmental indicators are static or trending in the wrong direction:

There was no significant improvement in water quality in 2022, and more local authority farm inspections and enforcement are needed to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on water quality.

Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities to ensure failed septic tank systems are fixed.
In the waste sector, there are challenging recycling targets that need to be met.
Localised air pollution issues continue to have a negative impact on people’s health.

Dr Ryan added: “The effective enforcement of environmental quality standards at the local level is essential. Local authority leadership is critical in delivering better environmental outcomes through the prioritisation of environmental enforcement and the appropriate allocation of resources.”

Overall 2022 Assessment Result for Co. Tipperary:
According to the report Tipperary County Council officials, and municipal district councillors, led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath, sadly met the required standard of a ‘Strong or Excellent’ result, for only 45% of the National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs) in 2022, while the national average was 59%.
Local authorities are expected to meet the required standard in 100% of the NEPs, by the end of the 2022 – 2024 three-year cycle.
Additional focus is now required in the work areas where a Limited or Moderate assessment result was achieved.

**Regular failure to empty bottle banks.**

Waste:

Poor waste segregation remains an ongoing problem with households and businesses still putting most of their waste in the wrong bin. Local authorities need to enforce the roll-out and use of 3-bin systems, to improve segregation and increase recycling of both household and commercial waste.

Mr David Pollard, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “The EPA’s recent waste characterisation study shows that many households and businesses are still failing to properly segregate their waste. Improving recycling rates through better segregation of wastes into the general, recycling and organics bins is essential if, as a nation, we are to turn waste into a valuable resource and reduce the amount of wastes we are sending to incineration and landfills. Local authorities have a vital role to play here by targeting their enforcement at the roll out and proper use of the 3-bin system.”

Water Quality:

**River Suir, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, close to Barry’s Bridge.**

Overall water quality is not good enough, with just over half of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters in satisfactory condition. Agriculture continues to have a significant impact on water quality, causing excess levels of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) to enter our waterways.

While the number of local authority farm inspections increased during 2022, the number is still too low. More farm inspections and follow-up enforcement is needed to reduce the risk of agricultural activities negatively impacting on water quality and to drive compliance with the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Regulations. The National Agricultural Inspection Programme, which commenced in 2022, sets out a risk-based approach to the targeting of inspections using the EPA’s Targeting Agricultural Measures Map. A priority for this winter (2023/2024) is that local authorities monitor that there is no spreading of soiled water, slurry or fertiliser on farmlands in the closed season or under unsuitable weather or soil conditions.

Air and Noise:

Local authorities assign a much lower level of resources to air and noise enforcement than waste and water enforcement. Whilst air quality met the standards in the Cleaner Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive in 2022 there are concerning localised issues relating to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide that impact negatively on people’s health. Continued focus is required by local authorities to ensure that only approved solid fuels are available for sale, to reduce air pollution from the combustion of solid fuels for home heating.

Greater local authority action is needed to prevent noise pollution impacting on people’s health and wellbeing. Most local authorities struggle to implement their own Noise Action Plans developed under the Environmental Noise Regulations. Local authorities need to allocate adequate resources to deal with noise issues. In particular, they should co-ordinate actions with other bodies responsible for transport and roads and designate quiet areas in towns and cities.

The Focus on Local Authority Environmental Enforcement – Performance Report 2022 report is available on the EPA website to download HERE. (Scroll to page 28 of 32 to view Co. Tipperary report.)

Status Orange Wind & Rain Warning Issued For Tipperary, Due To Approaching Storm Debi.

Note advice to all schools hereunder.

A ‘Status Red’ wind warning has been issued for counties bordering on Co. Tipperary, as Met Éireann warn of expected extremely gusty winds tonight; courtesy of Storm Debi, and posing a potential danger to life.

According to Met Éireann, when a Status Red warning is issued; which is rare, action should be taken to protect both yourself and your property. So it might be a good idea to check your garden at this time,for items of furniture, children’s play houses, Trampolines, plastic slides etc, all easily moved by high wind gusts.

From midnight on tonight, the whole of Ireland will be placed under a ‘Status Yellow’ wind and rain warning; same remaining in place until 3:00pm tomorrow afternoon, with motorists warned of poor visibility and potentially dangerous travelling conditions.
From 2:00am tomorrow morning, a ‘Status Orange’ wind warning will come into effect for counties Tipperary, and neighbouring counties Kilkenny, Limerick, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Clare, together with counties Carlow, Dublin, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Wicklow, Kerry and Galway. This evening’s warnings come in the wake of the devastation caused by preceding storms, e.g. Babet and Ciaran.

The first ‘Status Red’ wind warning will come into place at approximately 3:00am tomorrow morning, Monday, and will impact, in particular, counties Clare, Galway, and south Roscommon, remaining in place until 5:00am, before impacting counties Offaly and Westmeath.

Met Éireann warn that ‘Storm Debi’ could potentially cause damage to exposed and vulnerable structures, while causing disruption to services and transport, with significant power outages, including localised flooding, hail, hazardous travelling conditions, and fallen trees and branches.

From midnight tonight, the whole of Ireland will be placed under a ‘Status Yellow’ wind and rain warning remaining in place until 3:00pm tomorrow afternoon, with motorists warned of poor visibility and potentially dangerous travelling conditions.

Note according to RTE: All schools and pre-schools in 19 counties affected by Status Red and Status Orange warnings are being asked to remain closed until 10:00am tomorrow morning.
[Advice from Keith Leonard, National Director of Fire and Emergency Management.]

Bottles & Drink Cans Now Valuable, Thanks To Lidl.

Thurles.Info published, on October 12th last, details of how Lidl, the German International discount retail chain, intended to introduce reverse vending machines into their Thurles, Co. Tipperary retail outlet.
We are now happy to announce that the announcement has become a reality.

**Two reverse vending machines currently being installed in Lidl, situated on Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**

We can now confirm that two reverse vending machines have been installed and are expected to be up and running shortly.

Customers will soon be able to deposit their empty plastic bottles and drink cans and in return receive voucher credits to spend in-store, with each bottle or can deposited, earning its owner, between 10 and 15 cent per item deposited.

Great to see that the wheel has once again, comes full circle, with the situation returning to what it was in the 1960s; which saw empties returned for cash deposits, helping to keep tidy our town and country roadside landscapes.

WARNING – Thurles Cyclists Beware.

Pictures hereunder currently show the present state of just a two meter (6.56ft) stretch of roadscape in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

State of roadscape currently on Friar Street in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, latter a town with two Dail Éireann politicians both currently in residence, who have their constituency offices less than 500 meters from the above.
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

The craters have developed over a period of 12 weeks, on Friar Street in the town, and can be easily located just east of Supervalu.

Cyclists in particular are warned to take great care to avoid these craters positioned close to the footpath. These craters measuring up to 15cm (6ins) deep are a particular hazard after dark, and presently force cyclists to quickly move out into often fast moving traffic, in an effort to avoid the cratered surface.

The current state of this particular streetscape, together with other areas of the town [e.g. Barry’s bridge, Kickham Street etc, etc], demonstrate a total lack of proper administration by Thurles Municipal District Council officials.

**Kickham Street, Thurles, pictured after a light rain shower.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby.*

Perhaps, this would be an opportune time for Mr Jackie Cahill TD and Mr Michael Lowry TD to invite Minister for Transport, Mr Eamon Ryan TD to visit a now forgotten Thurles. Emphasize and ensure that he brings his bicycle and pedals around the town.
Other benefits would be that the latter TD’s could have their pictures taken, together with local Town Councillors.

EPA Launches A National Air Quality Forecast.

Sufferers of respiratory diseases and asthma please note.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today launched a national air quality forecast available on airquality.ie.
The forecast will provide maps showing the predicted daily air quality for up to three days -“Today”, “Tomorrow” and the “Day after Tomorrow”.
The air quality forecast is an important resource for everyone, but especially people who may be sensitive to poor air quality (e.g. those with asthma and heart conditions).
The air quality forecast will help people plan their activities to follow public health advice, such as reducing physical activity when air pollution levels could affect their health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today launched a national air quality forecast to provide greater information to the public regarding expected air quality in Ireland for up to three days – “Today”, “Tomorrow” and the “Day after Tomorrow”.

Forecasts include daily Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH), Particulate Matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). PM, NO2 and O3 are the three main air pollutants impacting human health in Ireland. All pollutants mapped are presented on the Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) scale (1 – 10).

Marking the launch of the forecast, Dr Micheál Lehane, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection & Environmental Monitoring, said: “Air pollution can seriously impact people’s health; the air quality forecast will provide an important health and air quality resource for everyone, and will be even more impactful for those of us who are particularly affected by poor air quality, including those suffering from respiratory disease and asthma. The forecast will also serve policy makers as a valuable tool for analysing air quality in Ireland.’’

There are concerning localised air quality issues in Ireland. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) from burning solid fuel and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from vehicle emissions are the main pollutants impacting on people’s health. This forecast will help people plan their activities in line with the Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) recommendations, such as reducing physical activity when air pollution levels are predicted to increase. The forecast maps will be uploaded twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

The CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland, Ms Eilís Ní Chathnia, welcomed the forecast launch: “The air quality forecast will be an important resource for our members and everyone with respiratory conditions. Ireland has the highest incidence rate of asthma in Europe with one in ten children and one in thirteen adults developing the condition – with 890,000 people likely to develop asthma in their lifetimes. The Asthma Society welcomes the opportunity to be associated with the launch of the forecast.’’

The forecast and further information on air quality and the Air Quality Index for Health are available on HERE.

The air quality forecast maps are produced by computer models which have been developed under the EU LIFE Emerald project. The models use Irish and European data such as air quality measurements, forecast weather and land cover data. The EPA has partnered on this with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), the Health Service Executive (HSE), VITO, a Belgian research institute, University College Cork (UCC) and the Asthma Society of Ireland.