Community News - Thurles Information

Death Of Margaret Swan, Formerly Loughmore, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Thursday 16th February 2023, of Mrs Margaret Swan (née Kavanagh), Fishery Lane, Naas, Co. Kildare and formerly of Loughmore and Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

Mrs Swan passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Naas Hospital, Craddockstown Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, surrounded by her loving family.

Pre-deceased by her brother Tommy; her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her husband Gerry, children Patrick and Deirdre, brothers Jack and Pat, sister Breda, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Swan will repose at her home on Monday afternoon, February 20th, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
A Funeral Service, to commemorate Margaret’s life, will take place on Tuesday morning, February 31st, at 10:00am in Newland’s Cross Crematorium, Ballymount Road, Ballymount, Dublin, 24.

For those of you who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Swan, same can be viewed, streamed live online HERE.

The extended Swan family 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.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Death Of Cathy Shanahan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death today, Friday 17th February 2023, of Ms Catherine (Cathy) Shanahan, Sarsfield Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her dad Eamonn; Ms Shanahan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at Padre Pio Nursing Home, Holycross, Thurles and Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Her passing is most deeply regretted by her mother Ceppie, brothers Frankie and Brendan, sister Margaret, uncle Frank, aunt Anne, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnieces, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Ms Shanahan will repose in Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, on Sunday afternoon, February 19th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening, before being received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, at 8:00pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning, February 20th, at 11:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles.

For those of you who are unable to attend the funeral service for Ms Shanahan, same can be viewed, streamed live online HERE.

The extended Shanahan family 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.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Tipperary County Council Auditor’s Report On Liberty Square For Year Ended Dec. 2021.

Statutory Audit Report to the members of Tipperary County Council for the year ended 31st December 2021.

* See section 7.3 For Tipperary County Council’s Auditor’s Report on Liberty Square Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The Liberty Square Enhancement Project in Thurles seeks to deliver a vibrant Liberty Square at the heart of Thurles. It is hoped this €10m project will enhance the attractiveness of Thurles as a place to live and a place for investment / employment. The project has evolved and developed over a number of years
with support and input from Thurles Chamber and extensive public consultation which influenced the design of the scheme.

Funding for this project is to be provided as follows:
URDF €5m (Urban Regeneration and Development Fund).
Council Match Funding €5m.

Phase 1
Following a successful bid for funding, consultants were appointed to develop designs for this project. The main contractor, for phase 1, was appointed in October 2019 and the tender amounted to €2.8m excluding VAT.
The new car park off Liberty Square opened on 1st October 2020 and Phase1 of the project reached substantial completion on 23rd December 2021, with a ‘defects completion period’ ending on 22nd December 2022.
‘Change Order Claims’ including interest by the contractor amount to €3.4m while an ER (Exchange Rate) Determination of €880k, has been made in this regard. This equates to 31% above the original contract price.
A ‘Notice of Dispute‘ regarding the determination of claims for works undertaken during the contract has been submitted by the contractor. While it has been jointly agreed by both parties that a conciliator will be appointed prior to the completion of the project, to mediate the disputed determinations, in accordance with the terms of contract, this has not happened to date.

Phase 2
Consultants were appointed in December 2021 to prepare the Phase 2 Part 8 drawings and documentation. The Complete Options Report including preferred option and preliminary design is expected by the end of 2022 with Part 8 Planning expected to commence in Q1 2023.
Cost estimates are to be completed by the end of Q2 2023 and are subject to agreement for the final cost for Phase 1, rising input costs, shortages and increasing energy costs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, and the war in Ukraine.
[Surely the Russo-Ukrainian War began to affect energy costs only in Ireland, after March 2022, (I remain confused here.)].
This project will be reviewed again in 2022.9.

Chief Executive’s Response
I am satisfied with the robustness of project management and governance structures that are in place in Tipperary County Council dealing with the delivery of Project Ireland 2040 approved projects and in this particular case the structures that are in in place in Thurles Municipal District.
Thurles MD has a dedicated Project Manager in place to manage these major projects and the associated contractual risks.
The project management is further strengthened by the oversight of the Project Ireland 2040 Steering Group and the District Delivery Group and also by the engagement of competent external experts to supervise the site and the works and to manage the contractual claims, the subsequent financial determinations and any dispute resolution processes.

Zero New Acute Beds For Mid-West Hospitals In 2023.

UL Hospitals Group only hospital group in country not to receive new beds.

No new acute beds will be opened in the Mid-West Region in 2023, according to figures released to Independent Clare TD, Mr Michael McNamara.

In response to Deputy McNamara’s Parliamentary Question, the HSE’s Acute Operations department says none of the six hospitals in the UL Hospitals Group will receive any of the 209 acute beds scheduled to be opened this year, subject to staffing and completion of some capital works.

“One year on from the news that no new acute beds would be opened within the UL Hospitals Group in 2022, we learn that the Mid West is once again missing from the list of regions to benefit from such investment in 2023,” stated Deputy McNamara.

He continued, “This follows on from the revelation that just 7 full-time positions were created at UHL, the most overcrowded hospital in the State for the past 7 years, and only 61 fulltime positions were filled in the UL Hospitals Group in 2022, the smallest increase in any region of the State, it’s clear that the chronic underinvestment in acute services in the Mid-West will continue through 2023. The fact that the UL Hospitals Group is the only group in the country not to benefit from new acute beds, is an affront to the people of North Tipperary, Clare and Limerick.”

The 209 new acute beds targeted to open in 2023 will be located in Mallow General Hospital (20) and South Tipperary General Hospital (28) (South/South West Hospital Group); Portiuncula University Hospital (12) and Letterkenny University Hospital (3) (Saolta University Health Care Group); Monaghan/Cavan General Hospital (2) (RCSI Hospitals Group); Mater University Hospital (96) and National Rehabilitation Hospital (6) (Ireland East Hospital Group); St James Hospital (12), Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore (8) and Naas General Hospital (12) (Dublin Midlands Hospital Group); and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin (10) (Children’s Health Ireland).

Deputy McNamara admitted that while the provision of additional bed capacity on its own will not resolve the overcrowding problems at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), the delivery of new acute, beds “should certainly be part of the solution.”

Meanwhile, Deputy McNamara said that he has requested Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to include Ennis Hospital on his itinerary during his visit to the region tomorrow (Friday) when he is scheduled to visit UHL and meet, separately, with representatives of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign.

“It is necessary that the Taoiseach visits our Model 2 Hospitals to get a better understanding of their underutilisation and their capacity to contribute to reducing overcrowding at UHL. The people of the Mid-west cannot afford another year of negligible investment in healthcare services in this region, which will result in a repeat of dangerous levels of overcrowding next winter.

“Increasing bed capacity and expanding services at our Model 2 hospitals, while not a panacea, must be part of the solution as failure to do so will lead to a continuation of crippling overcrowding at Dooradoyle and even longer waiting lists”, concluded Deputy McNamara.

Extension of Temporary Protection Permissions Granted To Persons Fleeing Ukraine War

Temporary Protection* extended a further 12 months to March 2024.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in Ireland do not need to take any action.
Minister says this will provide certainty to beneficiaries and organisations delivering supports.

* Temporary Protection:- The Temporary Protection Directive (Council Directive 2001/55/EC) sets out the minimum standards of protection to be provided by EU Member States to third country nationals, in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons, latter who are unable to return to their country of origin.
This Directive was activated for the first time by the Council on March 4th 2022.
Duration of Temporary Protection:- Article 4 of the Directive provides that the duration of temporary protection is initially for one year and unless terminated under the terms of the Directive, it may be extended automatically by six monthly periods for a maximum of one year.
The EU Commission has recently confirmed that due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, temporary protection will now be extended automatically until March 2024.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris T.D. today announced that the temporary protection permission that has been granted to those who have arrived in Ireland, fleeing the invasion of Ukraine, will be extended for a further 12 months to March 2024.

In making the announcement today the Minister stated; “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues with new offensives against towns and cities. Missile and drone strikes against civilians and critical infrastructure continue. Many lives have been lost, and millions of innocent civilians have been driven from their homes.

The Irish government and our colleagues across Europe continue to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian government and its people. The commitment to European solidarity is evident now more than ever and is reflected in the recent EU Commission decision to extend temporary protection until March 2024.
In that regard, I am pleased to announce the extension of temporary protection permissions to people fleeing the war in Ukraine for a further 12 months to March 2024. This will give reassurance to the people who have sought shelter and security here from the war in Ukraine that they will have continued access to the supports that they need. It also provides certainty to the various organisations involved in providing those supports of the future requirements and expectations.

Ireland has never before seen so many people arrive in such a short time frame. It is our moral imperative to provide support to the Ukrainian people and I am proud of the welcome and support our communities across the country have delivered.

I would also like to acknowledge the contribution those arriving have made, particularly to our economy as many avail of the opportunity to work. I hope that today’s announcement also provides certainty to employers, many of whom are benefitting from the skills and labour of people who have arrived here from Ukraine.”

The Department began granting Temporary Protection to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine on March 9th, 2022. To date some 75,000 people have been given Temporary Protection here in Ireland.

Each permission is granted for a period of 12 months from the date of issue, meaning that the initial permissions granted will expire on 9 March 2023. Therefore, permissions are due to be renewed/extended from March 2023.

In order to give beneficiaries of temporary protection reassurance as to their ongoing protection status in Ireland, an extension of 12 months permission is now being announced, (to March 2024).

While the extension is automatically applied to those who hold temporary permission and no specific action is this regard is required on the part of beneficiaries, a confirmation notice, confirming this extension is available on the Irish immigration website available HERE.
This can be downloaded and printed by Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) as evidence of the extension which, along with their original Temporary Protection permission certificate, will confirm their current status in the Irish State.