Education « Thurles Information

School Secretaries & Caretakers Strike Called Off.

The union has confirmed that a central part of the deal is a Government commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements for all staff.

Fórsa trade union has called off its strike action by school Secretaries and Caretakers, having reaching an agreement with the present Government through the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Fórsa’s Head of Education, Mr Andy Pike, welcomed the breakthrough, describing it as “a major step forward” for their members.
He said the commitment to negotiate pensions represented a “significant advance” and that progress on leave and payroll would provide a fair basis for staff to return to work.

The agreement also provides for discussions on a range of workplace issues, including a new pay framework for caretakers; access to bereavement and sick leave; acute illness protocols and the full implementation of payroll arrangements.

The government has welcomed Fórsa’s decision to suspend strike action and enter discussions. They have praised the resilience of school communities during this dispute, while urging both sides to approach talks in good faith.

Formal discussions under the council of the WRC, will commence on Wednesday, September 10th next.

“You Will Die in Prison”, A Tipperary Story – RTÉ One Tonight -10:35pm.

“You Will Die in Prison”, is a Tipperary man’s true story, which will be featured on RTÉ One Tonight, September 3rd, at 10:35pm.

A Tipperary man, wrongly imprisoned in Iran, states that he continues to suffer following his treatment in an Iranian prison. Mr Bernard Phelan, a Tipperary man who spent some seven months in an Iranian prison, has said the trauma of his ordeal continues to affect both him and his family.

Mr Phelan, originally from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, revealed that he recently suffered a stroke, which doctors have conclusively linked to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 65-year-old, who holds both Irish and French citizenship, had been travelling to Iran since 2017, first as a tourist and later to develop trekking holidays. In October 2023, he was arrested, accused of providing information to an enemy state, before being held in prison until May of 2023. He was forced to go on hunger strike, before finally being pardoned and released on humanitarian grounds.

Speaking about his time in captivity, Mr Phelan said he was haunted by fears that his father would die before his release. Their reunion following his eventual return was he stated, “deeply moving”.
He later got a chance to meet President Michael D Higgins, latter who failed to criticise Iran for its constant call for the total destruction of the state of Israel and for its funding and the arming of terrorist organisations, namely Hamas and Hezbollah, not to mention its violations of human rights against its very own citizens.
In mid-2024, Irish President Mr Higgins had written to Iran’s new president Mr Masoud Pezeshkian to congratulate him on his new appointment. The letter was not officially published by the President’s office, but was circulated online and received some criticism, including from members within Fine Gael, who rightly accused President Higgins of being “tone deaf” to civil rights issues within Iran.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Charlie Flanagan had rightly informed the Press that he felt Mr Higgins’ views on Iran were “somewhat misplaced”.
The Irish President then falsely accused the Israeli embassy in Ireland of circulating the letter, when in fact it was proven to have been circulated by the Iranian embassy as a “Look Ireland Supports Iran” PR stunt.

Mr Phelan now called for stronger EU action in securing the release of European citizens wrongly imprisoned abroad. Mr Phelan believes, and with justification, that European citizens are not being helped by EU authorities.

His story will be told in a new RTÉ documentary entitled, “You Will Die in Prison”, being airing tonight on RTÉ One at 10.35pm.

Tipperary Parents Must Claim School Allowances By 30th September 2025.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) provides a lump sum of €160 per child aged 4 -11 and €285 per child aged 12 years plus in second-level education, to assist with the cost of school uniforms and footwear.

Deadline: Applications will close on September 30th, 2025.
Automatic payments: Many families are paid automatically and will have been notified by June 9th 2025 via MyWelfare or by post. If not notified, you need to apply.
Eligibility: (1) Children must be resident in Ireland, aged 4–17 (or 18–22 if in full-time second-level education).
(2) Parents/guardians must be receiving a qualifying social welfare payment or participating in an approved scheme, and household income must be within BSCFA limits.
(3) Note: Since June 2025, foster parents can also apply.
How to apply: Apply online through MyWelfare.ie with a verified MyGovID, or request a paper form via the BSCFA helpline, or Email: BSCFA@welfare.ie, or Telephone 0818 111113 or 071 91 93318

EPA – Ireland’s Infrastructure For Hazardous Waste Needs Investment.

The mid-term evaluation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 by the EPA shows mixed results in terms of implementation.
Ireland remains reliant on facilities in European countries to export hazardous wastes, posing a risk around management of complex waste materials in a sustainable way.
There has been some progress in establishing national infrastructure for the collection of household hazardous wastes (e.g. surplus paint) and farm hazardous waste (e.g. Pesticides or chemicals). However, sustained investment is needed.
A national take back scheme for the collection of unused and expired medicines is needed.
Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on the mid-term evaluation and implementation of Ireland’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027. The Plan sets out measures to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste such as:
(1) Farm hazardous waste including spent sheep dip;
(2) Unused and expired medicines;
(3) Household hazardous waste including surplus paint;
(4) Assessment of national infrastructure and capacity.

Progress on the plan’s priority areas has been variable with notable improvements and progress in some areas, with limited advancement in others.

Hazardous waste generation decreased from 580,000 tonnes in 2019 to 381,000 tonnes in 2023 due to, for example, a decrease in dredging activity and lower volumes of contaminated soils.

Commenting on the report, Mr David Flynn, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said: “Our report, published today, highlights a strong case for investment in Ireland’s hazardous waste treatment infrastructure. This is needed to ensure highly polluting hazardous wastes are properly and safely managed. Ireland exports half of its hazardous waste for treatment. We cannot continue to rely on other countries to treat significant quantities of hazardous wastes generated in Ireland.”

This mid-term evaluation presents updates on the implementation of all the recommendations and actions identified in the Plan with seventeen recommendations completed or on-track to date.

Mr Warren Phelan, Programme Manager for the Circular Economy, added: “The report shows some progress in establishing systems for the collection of household hazardous and farm hazardous wastes. However, the setting up of a national take back scheme for unused and expired medicines has been slow. Sustained investment to ensure the durability and resilience of these systems is needed. Producers whose products result in hazardous wastes, such as paints, oils and farm chemicals, need to take greater responsibility, including funding for their safe management.”

The report Mid-term evaluation of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027 – Incorporating the 2024 Annual Report is now available on the EPA website, HERE.

Thurles Order of Malta Cadet Unit Launches New Recruitment Drive

Mr Thomas M. Bourke, (Cadet Leader), Order of Malta Thurles Reports:

NOTE: The Order of Malta Thurles Cadet Unit are now launching a new recruitment drive for the year ahead.

Our Cadet Basic First Aid course begins on September 12th 2025 at 6:30pm, with training taking place at the Order Of Malta Training Centre, Bohervaroon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 HN28).

The Order of Malta Cadet Unit gives young people, aged between 10-16 years-of-age, the opportunity to make new friends, learn, very often, life saving first aid skills while give back to their local community.

Anyone interested in joining can email thurlescadets@orderofmalta.ie to register their interest.