In a message to their milk suppliers; on Monday last, we understand that Centenary Thurles Co-operative Society have advised farmers to monitor their bank accounts, their email service, and any other forms of stored data, in order to become aware of possible suspicious activity, over the coming days.
We understand that the Thurles Co-operative Society is working to resolve a suspected breach in their current IT system.
The Co-operative Society, run by the local farming community for the mutual benefit of its members and the Society, acknowledge that they have identified certain IT regularities within their system, but for security reasons have declined to further comment on what aspect of their system has been compromised.
It was Fianna Fáil Cllr. Mr Seamus Hanafin who first confirmed that “Checkpoint Charlie”, latter, also known by the handle “Slievenamon Road Car Park” has reverted once more to a “pay and display system”. Not to be out done Fianna Fáil Cllr. Sean Ryan, was quickly out of school again, offering this now historic information, before promising to inform the public on exactly how much of local tax payer funds had been totally and utterly squandered without their permission.
With regards to the matter of wasted tax payer funding, both men have since remained tight lipped, in the knowledge that taxpayers don’t really need to know, and sure same can be recouped by simply raising local property tax by 10%, as was the case some weeks previously. Currently, the rumour is that the overall installation of “Checkpoint Charlie” was a whopping €95,000 plus. (Add another few thousand Euro for removing it.)
This brings me to another question, which does need answering. With Tipperary Co. Council having totally succeeded in ensuring that Thurles town centre businesses are for the most part no longer economic, how much profit has car parking charges rendered to the coffers of Thurles Municipal District? Maybe those intent on running for the 5 year post, as elected representative on Thurles Municipal District council; latter to be set by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in May or June of 2024, might try to find out.
Since “Checkpoint Charlie’s” conception, there have been ongoing issues with this barrier system. Constantly out of order and regularly interfered with by ‘uncouth barbarians’ residing locally, thus greatly angering and frustrating car park users. Tipp Co. Co., led by Chief Executive Mr Joe MacGrath, have now decided to revert back to the “pay and display” system, which was working perfectly, previously with their Parking App.
The barriers, themselves have now been removed, but meanwhile, the practice of tightening roadways and junctions, by Tipp. Co. Co’s. Traffic Consultants and Road Engineers, has already taken the first steps in its physical removal, with a motorised vehicle of some variety, already used to re construct its physical structure (See image above herewith).
Today is Lá Fhéile Míchíl or St Michael’s Day or Michaelmas which is celebrated annually on today, September 29th,2022.
Same date was once an important Fair Day in the Irish farming calendar, as well as featuring in Ireland’s Administrative and Legal year Calendar, [Michaelmas Term – October to December]. Back in the 19th-century, it was traditional for Dublin bakers to gift a ‘Barmbrack‘ (latter a yeast bread with added sultanas and raisins. Irish: bairín breac – translated to English “speckled bread”) to their customers on the feast of Michaelmas.
Alas, no Barmbracks were being handed out either today by Bank of Ireland branches, who have been fined a final total of €100.5m by the Central Bank, with regards its handling of tracker mortgage customers. Initially the Central Bank fined Bank of Ireland €143.6m, but same was reduced by 30% under its settlement discount scheme. Same fine is, to date, the largest fine ever imposed on any financial institution, by the Irish Central Bank.
Some 15,910 tracker mortgage customer accounts had been impacted by the bank’s actions, between August 2004 and June 2022, same resulting in the loss of 50 properties, including 25 family homes.
In all Bank of Ireland has admitted in full to 81 separate regulatory breaches.
It was found that Bank of Ireland provided unclear contractual documents to its customers, failed to interpret its unclear contractual documents in customer’s best interests and failed to warn customers regarding the consequences of decisions, relating to their mortgages.
It also implemented what was considered to be an unfair complaint handling practice in relation to customers, and had deficient mortgage systems and controls, which had contributed to a significant number of operational errors.
The Minister for Finance, Mr Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure, Mr Michael McGrath, this afternoon unveiled core budget figures in their biggest giveaway budget ever in Ireland’s history; most of which comes from a huge increased tax-take from corporations, particularly a small number of American tech companies.
Mr Paschal Donohoe announced an income tax package to the value of more than €1.1bn, and without any borrowing to fund given tax cuts.
Announced Cost-of-living measures
Electricity credit of €600 for all households to be paid in three instalments, with first instalment to be paid before Christmas and two at the beginning of 2023.
A Social Welfare doublepayment to be paid in October, as well as the Christmas bonus which will be paid in early December.
€500 for working family payment, to be paid in November
A double child benefit payment of €140 per child to be made on top of normal monthly payment.
Carers are to receive a once-off €500 carer support grant in November
Persons living alone to receive €200 once-off payment before Christmas
Persons with disabilities to receive €500 once-off payment, to be made in November.
Energy support scheme for businesses, covering 40% of increased cost of electricity bill (up to €10,000 per month), to be calculated by comparing average unit prices from 2021 to 2022.
Mica Redress Scheme will be funded by a 10% levy on concrete products which is expected to raise €80 million annually, taking effect from April 3rd, 2023.
Carbon tax to increase, but will be offset by national oil reserve levy, meaning price at the pump for petrol and diesel will not change.
Excise duty reduction of 21c per litre for diesel, 16c per litre for petrol and 5.4c per litre marked gas/oil, and 9% VAT reduction on energy to be extended until February 28th, 2023.
Taxation
Excise duty on a 20-pack of cigarettes increased by 50c, with pro rata increases for other tobacco products. (Raising the cost of cigarettes to around €15.80 for a premium pack and €13.80 for an average pack.)
Bank levy extended for another year to raise €87 million annually
Income tax package of €1.1 billion will increase lower tax rate band to €40,000
Personal tax credit increase by €75, carer tax increased by €100
Cost of special exemption order to be halved for late-night entertainment venues.
The 9% VAT rate will continue until February 2023.
VAT on newspaper industry to be reduced to zero, with effect from January 1st, 2023.
Zero VAT rate to be applied to hormone and nicotine replacement products and period products.
Ireland to be part of EU Windfall Tax measures for energy companies. (Actual Details not announced).
Housing
Vacant Homes Tax will apply to residential properties, occupied for less than 30 days in 12-month period, with the amount being three times the property’s existing local property tax.
Help to Buy scheme extended, to remain at current rates, until the end of 2024.
Rent tax credit worth €500 per year, can also be claimed for rent paid in 2022.
€6.2 billion to Department of Housing, over half of which (€3.5 billion) will come in the form of capital investment.
€1.7 billion to deliver 9,100 Social Houses.
€215 million for homelessness services.
€87 million for Retrofits in 2023, while a new low-cost loan will also be introduced for those undertaking residential retrofits.
Education & childcare
A once-off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution fee to be brought in for the academic year 2022/2023.
Once-off double SUSI payment for students.
Permanent €500 reduction in student contribution fee for households earning between €62,000-€100,000.
SUSI payments to increase by between 10% – 14% from next September
25 per cent reduction in childcare fees.
370 additional teaching posts to be introduced to reduce student-teacher ratios to 23 to 1.
686 additional teachers to support those with special needs and 1,194 additionalSNAs.
Funding made available to provide free school books to all primary school children.
Approximately 4,800 extra apprenticeship placements will be funded from next year.
Health
The Department of Health is set to receive €23.4 billion.
Removal of hospital in-patient charges to everyone.
Free GP care for a further 400,000 people.
Funding to be delivered for 650 acute and community beds by end of 2023 and recruitment of 6,000 additional healthcare staff.
Additional €225 million to be provided, thus bringing an overall package of €443 million to tackle medical waiting lists.
Free contraception to be extended to all women aged 16-30.
A further €58 million for mental health services.
The ongoing Covid-19 response will receive €439 million.
Multifarious
Energy: €850 million energy capital grants, €337 million for grants for energy efficiency to fund 37,000 home energy upgrades.
Transport: €2.6 billion for transport to progress major projects, including BusConnects, Metrolink and Dart.
Policing: 1,000 new gardaí to be recruited next year, as well as 430 garda civilian staff. Approximately 200 new recruits will enter Templemore, Co. Tipperary, each quarter for the coming years.
Garda overtime: Budget to increase by €5 million to over €100 million
Defence: Capital allocation for Defence Forces will increase by €5 million, while an extra 400 permanent members will be recruited in 2023
Foreign Aid: Irish Aid funding is to increase by €100 million, while €75 million will be spent on humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Assisting customers wishing to move current accounts from Ulster Bank and KBC.
To facilitate and support prospective customers; Bank of Ireland has announced that 61 of its branches around Ireland will open for the four Saturdays during the month of October 2022. Opening hours each Saturday will be from 10:00am – 2:00pm, beginning from October 1st to October 22nd, to assist those customers wishing to move current accounts from Ulster Bank and KBC.
Financial advisors within Bank of Ireland will be on hand in all 61 branches to provide information on moving accounts and to support customers in the account opening process.
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