Uisce Éireann is to submit a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application, alongside a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) application, to An Coimisiún Pleanála for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region, described as the largest-ever water project in Irish history.
What does the project propose? Uisce Éireann plans to abstract water from Parteen Basin (Lower River Shannon), treat it near Birdhill, Co Tipperary, and pipe treated water about 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a new termination reservoir at Peamount, Co Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area network.
How much water would be taken? Uisce Éireann says the scheme would abstract a maximum of 2% of the average/long-term average flow at Parteen Basin.
Why is it being pursued? Uisce Éireann says the Eastern & Midlands region is over-reliant on a single source (the River Liffey system) and that population/economic growth and climate pressures will increase demand; it says a new source is needed for resilience.
What is the cost and timeline? Subject to planning, Uisce Éireann proposes construction starting in 2028, completing within five years, with an estimated budget of €4.58bn–€5.96bn and more than 1,000 direct jobs at peak construction.
How many landowners are affected? Reporting on the scheme states the underground pipeline would cross lands belonging to about 500 owners.
What are objectors saying? 1) Environmental impact on the Shannon / Natura 2000 protections. A key objection is potential ecological impact on the Shannon system. Parteen Basin is within the Lower River Shannon SAC (site code 002165), and critics argue abstraction/infrastructure must be proven not to adversely affect protected habitats/species.
2)“Fix the leaks first”. Opponents argue Dublin’s deficit should be tackled primarily through leakage reduction and network upgrades. Uisce Éireann’s own figures state about 37% of treated water is lost through leaks nationally. (Analysis has cited 37% nationally and 33% in the Greater Dublin Area lost to leaks.)
3)Demand and climate assumptions. Some stakeholders have challenged the robustness and horizon of demand forecasts,raising issues such as planning beyond 2050, climate impacts and high-demand users (including data centres and large energy users), particularly during drought.
4) Cost escalation and value-for-money. Objectors highlight the multibillion price tag (often described as “about €6bn”) and warn of further escalation; reporting has referenced a worst-case risk scenario exceeding €10bn in official correspondence.
5) Land access, CPO concerns, disruption and compensation/tax. Landowner objections include disruption during construction, long-term land constraints, and concerns about compensation treatment (including tax/VAT implications).
What is Uisce Éireann’s response ?
It says the abstraction would be capped at 2% of Parteen Basin flows and that the application includes an EIAR and Natura Impact Statement. It says leakage reduction is part of the solution, but that a new source is still required for resilience. It points to landowner liaison and a negotiated voluntary wayleave/land package agreed with farming bodies.
What happens next ? Uisce Éireann says planning notices run from 12 December 2025 and planning documents will be available from 19 December 2025 once lodged. The project page states submissions/observations to An Coimisiún Pleanála may be made from January 6th 2026 until February 25th 2026 at 5.30pm.
Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated year on year, and scams are increasingly difficult to spot. AIB is urging customers and the wider public to stay vigilant by knowing the warning signs and taking a moment to verify unexpected messages, calls and offers.
AIB’s Financial Crime Prevention team has outlined the six most common fraud and scam types observed during 2025, along with practical tips to help people protect themselves.
The six top fraud scams seen in 2025. 1) Smishing — text message fraud. Fraudsters send convincing texts claiming to be from banks, delivery firms or government agencies, urging you to click a link, call a number, or share security codes. Tip:Never click links or call numbers in unexpected texts. Contact the organisation directly using trusted contact details.
2) Safe account scams. Scammers pose as bank staff and claim your account is compromised, pressuring you to move funds to a “safe” account that they control. Tip: AIB will never ask you to move your money for security reasons. Hang up immediately.
3) Investment scams. Fraudsters promise high returns to lure victims into fake schemes, often involving cryptocurrency, bonds or precious metals. Tip: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Seek independent financial advice before investing.
4) Romance scams. Scammers create fake online identities to build emotional relationships, then ask for money or personal information. Tip: Never send money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person.
5) Money mule recruitment. Criminals recruit people to move stolen funds through their accounts, often marketed as “easy money” jobs. Tip: Never agree to transfer money for someone else or allow anyone to use your bank account — this is illegal.
6) Shopping scams. Fraudsters create cloned websites or social media “shops” offering goods that don’t exist. Tip: Stick to platforms you trust, check independent reviews, and ask: is the price too good to be true?
AIB help. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact AIB immediately on the 24/7 fraud reporting line: 1800 24 22 27(or +353 1 771 5639 from outside Ireland). You can also find further guidance and contact options in the AIB Security Centre.
Security reminder. Unfortunately, some fraudsters send emails pretending to be from AIB. Please remember: AIB willnever ask you to provide your Personal Access Code (PAC) by email or via links in an email. AIB will never ask for Code Card or AIB Card Reader codes by email or via links in an email. AIB will never ask you to provide debit or credit card details by email or via links in an email.
Treat unsolicited requests for money, codes or personal information as a red flag – Wait a Sec, Double Check.
Food Safety Authority of Ireland recall all foods from EB Food Essentials, due to production in, and/or sold from, an unregistered establishment.
Alert Summary dated Friday, December 12th 2025.
Category 1: For Action Alert Notification: 2025.70 Product Identification: All food products produced by and/or sold by EB Food Essentials, Coolanagh, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. Please see table below for examples of some affected products, however, this is not an exhaustive list. All pack sizes are implicated. Batch Code: All batch numbers and all expiry dates.
Message: All food products produced by and/or sold by EB Food Essentials, Coolanagh, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois are subject to recall, as they were produced in and/or sold from an unregistered establishment, which is not subject to official controls. Recall notices should be displayed at point-of-sale.
Nature Of Danger: The food was produced in and/or sold from an establishment that was not subject to official controls, and as such, it is not possible to confirm the food was manufactured in compliance with all relevant food safety legislation. Therefore, as a precaution, the implicated products are being recalled to ensure consumer safety.
Action Required:Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers: Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and should display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers/Distributors: are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat any products from EB Food Essentials.
Tipperary parking shake-up to go to consultation in early 2026, with Thurles calls growing to scrap charges.
A countywide overhaul of parking charges and permits across Tipperary’s nine pay-parking towns is due to go to public consultation in early 2026, after councillors examined proposals at a series of workshops aimed at “harmonising” how parking is managed from town to town.
The characterisation of Thurles town centre as “just a drive through area” reflects ongoing public concerns about traffic congestion and the impact of traffic management schemes on the town’s future vitality.
The nine towns currently within the Council’s eParking/pay-parking system are Thurles, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea, Templemore and Tipperary Town.
What’s in the proposals (as currently outlined)? Three-tier classification: the nine towns would be grouped into Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3, with a different pricing structure depending on classification. First 20 minutes free: the plan would introduce a formal 20-minute free-parking period in each town when implemented (reported for September 2026). Charging hours: parking charges are proposed to apply 8.30am–6.30pm, every day except Sunday. Permit overhaul: reforms are proposed for the full range of permits, including categories such as residential and visitor permits, alongside other permit types. Off-street incentives and local “return” of revenue: the outline includes lower charges for off-street parking and a new approach to how parking income is used locally (with towns retaining a share of additional revenue above an agreed baseline). Submissions urged: the public are being encouraged to make submissions, seeking calls for one hour duration in free parking, rather than 20 minutes.
Why Thurles is central to the debate.
Despite Tipperary County Council initiatives framed as boosting Thurles town-centre trade and footfall (including measures such as time-limited free parking promotions), local retailers have long argued the centre cannot compete with shopping centres offering easier/free parking. They say that, following recent town-centre parking changes and the loss/uncertainty around key capacity, shopper activity has increasingly gravitated towards Thurles Shopping Centre and LIDL on Slievenamon Road, to the detriment of town-centre shops, because sufficient convenient parking has not been maintained with recent upgrading.
In Thurles, the conversation is being shaped by a series of recent town-centre parking and traffic changes, including:
A push to increase short-stay turnover in central areas, following concerns that all-day parking by workers was squeezing out shoppers.
Ongoing controversy around plans linked to Liberty Square, where parking spaces have been a recurring flashpoint.
The introduction of updated local rules under Thurles Municipal District Parking Bye-Laws 2025, adopted by elected members and brought into effect in April 2025.
Pressure on supply from the loss/closure of key town-centre parking, including the Munster Hotel car park closure, Market Area and The Source closures, alongside other long-term reductions referenced locally (reported as over 100 spaces).
“Abolish charges altogether” – the emerging Thurles position. Against that backdrop, the argument being made by some in Thurles is straightforward: because the town centre has already absorbed significant disruption and a tightening of parking availability, parking charges should be abolished altogether rather than “rebalanced.” There is precedent for this stance in the Liberty Square context, with calls previously made for parking charges to be suspended in Thurles during major works to help protect footfall.
What happens next ? The Council is expected to publish consultation details in early 2026, allowing residents, traders and commuters to lodge submissions on:
the tiering model,
the free-parking period,
charging hours and enforcement,
permit eligibility and pricing,
how parking income should be reinvested locally.
Tipperary County Council already uses its online portal to run formal public consultations on matters of upgrading and parking bye-law proposals, however, the petty exercise of same authority, by minor officials is perceived only as a “tick box” exercise, rather than a meaningful tool for future public consultative policy development.
Pre-deceased by her beloved husband Mick, parents Martin and Alice, brothers Dick and Billy, brothers-in-law Conor, Bishop Laurence, Pat, Jim and John, sister-in-law Maggie; Mrs Ryan passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving sons Kevin, Joe, Colm and Aidan, daughter Alison (Laffan), daughters-in-law Suzanne, Deirdre, Breda and Kerrie, son-in-law Eddie, sisters Ailish (Ryan) and Pauline (Jennings), brother Michael, her 13 cherished grandchildren and great-grandson, brother-in-law Matty, sisters-in-law Kitty, Mary, Mae and Birdie, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Ryan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Ryan and Quinn families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Irish Kidney Association in memory of Mrs Marie Ryan (née Quinn)
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