Thurles Information

Thurles Mayor – Councillor  Michael Cleary.

Thurles Town is to get its long awaited Town Park.

This welcome news was announced at last night’s Thurles Town Council monthly meeting, much to the delight of all Councillors in attendance.

Local Council representatives were strong in their praise for the efforts of Mr Matt Short (Town Manager) and Mr Michael Ryan (Town Clerk), both major negotiators in this property purchase.

The land, which consists of some 8 acres, was purchased from St Patrick’s College here in Thurles and is understood to include a further 2 acres, purchased at the rear of the College, for the construction of possible relief road.  The latter property links from Erin foods across onto the Mill road and if the relief road envisaged can be funded, same would greatly assist the town’s presently congested traffic flow through the town’s centre.

The next stage of this operation is for a design team to be put in place and for planning permission to be sought, with the hope that the park will be fully ready in the next few years for all people to take pride in and to enjoy the substantial benefits that this town enhancement will now offer.

Speaking to Thurles Mayor Mr Michael Cleary this morning, who welcomed this news, the Mayor stated; “I would like to thank all parties involved in the negotiations surrounding this project & the various Councils both past & present who over the years put aside money for this important project. The emergence of this Town Park, positioned beside the present Swimming Pool and the Source Arts Centre, will hugely complement the present town centre.”

Fine Gael TD Noel Coonan has also welcomed the purchase of the eight acres at St Patrick’s College, Thurles, stating,  “This Town Park will in time prove to be a brilliant amenity for the people of Thurles and its environs. It is great news that a modern recreational facility will finally be made available to Thurles.  I know it is very much welcomed by everyone living in the Cathedral Town and I look forward to helping with the development of the park and I very much look forward to construction commencing,“concluded Deputy Coonan.

St Patrick’s College have been extremely accommodating in the past, with the gifting, some years ago, of town centre land, latter which presently is occupied by our excellent Swimming Pool and the Source Arts Centre.

Ratepayers, whose accounts show outstanding arrears on the books of North Tipperary Co Council and who are making no effort to pay their legal & just dues, are to be publicly “named and shamed.” So stated County Manager Mr Joe MacGrath at last Monday’s official meeting of North Tipperary Co Council.

Accounts show that more than 20% of all Rate Payers in North Tipperary are now in arrears, with in excess of €1.8 million of these taxes remaining uncollected, carried forward from the Council’s fiscal year 2012.

Mr MacGrath is gravely concerned regarding North Tipperary Co Council’s ability to deliver full services,  while some Rate paying business people, who owe water charges, are refusing to pay or in simply in arrears.

Mr MacGrath stated, that within the Council’s defaulting category, there were a few ratepayers who had made no attempt whatsoever to pay and were frustrating the Co County Council appointed Rate collectors.

While appreciating the current very difficult trading environment now facing many business people in North Tipperary, Mr MacGrath stated that the majority of ratepayers had fully engaged with the Co Council, and where deemed necessary, some had worked out a future payment plan to fully meet their legal commitments.

Manager MacGrath intimated that defaulting Rate Payers were now being put on full & final notice as to North Tipperary Co Council’s future intentions, and he encouraged those who were struggling or refusing to pay their rates, to now engage in dialogue, discussing their particular problems with his Council’s Collection Officials.

Groups in Tipperary can apply for funding from Communicating Europe Initiative

North Tipperary Fine Gael TD, Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomed the announcement that the application process for funding under the Department of the Taoiseach’s Communicating Europe Initiative has commenced. Groups eligible to apply for funding include voluntary organisations, education bodies and civil groups.

“I am encouraging all voluntary organisations, education bodies and civil groups to submit proposals to the Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) for funding of projects aimed at increasing public awareness about the role that the EU plays in our daily lives,” explained Deputy Coonan.

“In addition to hosting the Presidency of the EU for the first six months of this year, we are celebrating 40 years since Ireland joined the European Union. Since joining, we have benefited in a number of ways, such as gaining access to new markets for our growing export sector, support for our farming communities and financial assistance to build new roads and public transport infrastructure. Adopting new standards in social protection and labour law has also helped make Ireland a fairer and more equal place to work and live,” continued Deputy Coonan.

The 2013 awards for funding under the CEI will be bestowed on projects which encourage citizens to actively engage and participate in the debate on their future in Europe.

Proposals will be assessed under the following criteria:-

Events which promote public conversations and debate – at local or national level
Cultural and media projects that explain Ireland in Europe and Europe in Ireland- at local or national level
Projects or events designed to celebrate the European Year of Citizens
Events that celebrate Europe Day on Thursday May 9th

“I look forward to seeing some of the great ideas that people will be submitting to the CEI,” concluded the local TD.