Employment « Thurles Information

Write-Off’s On Welfare Payments Total More Than €15 Million Over Two Years.

Irish Taxpayers have carried the cost of more than €15 million in incorrect welfare payments over the past two years.

In the year 2024 alone, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) wrote off €7.97 million, up from €7.64 million in 2023. These write-offs occur when overpayments are deemed irrecoverable; for example, where the recipient has died or the cost of pursuing same outweighs likely recovery.

Approximately 75% of the write-off’s relate to individuals who are deceased; smaller amounts (typically under €100) are also cancelled when recovery is judged uneconomical. The DSP operates a structured debt-management policy, issuing annual statements to claimants and reserving the right to reopen a case, if a recipient’s financial circumstances improve.

Of the 2024 total, nearly €3.1 million was attributed to non-contributory state pensions, while some €1.44 million related to the contributory state pension, and around €841,000 to illness benefits. Other six-figure losses include invalidity pensions, jobseeker’s benefit, widows/widowers’ pensions and one-parent-family payments.

Over the same 2023-24 period, welfare overpayments in total amounted to €273 million, with a marked rise from €115.8 million in 2023 to €157.5 million in 2024. These overpayments stem from instances of false or misleading information by claimants, as well as errors by either applicants or the department itself.

The DSP states that overpayments in any year account for less than 0.5 per cent of total welfare expenditure. In 2023 the department recovered more than €87 million, and in 2024 the figure rose to just over €100 million.

Where overpayments occur, the DSP seeks full recovery, while balancing collection efforts with fair treatment of claimants with limited means. Deductions of up to 15 per cent of ongoing welfare payments may be made. If a debtor is in full-time employment and refuses to repay, an “attachment of earnings” order may be considered. The department emphasises it will strive to avoid causing “undue financial hardship” in any repayment plan.

Next Week – 96 Additional Beds Will Become Available At UHL.

University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is set to open 96 additional beds in the coming days, in what health officials say marks the first step in a long-term plan to ease chronic overcrowding at the Mid West Region’s main hospital.

The €96 million development, which has been under construction over the past three years, will deliver 96 single en-suite rooms, all of which are new bed stock. It is understood the unit will be fully staffed once it becomes operational next week.

This is the first of three 96-bed blocks planned for the UHL campus, with the second expected to open in 2027 and the third in the 2030s.

UHL has consistently been ranked the country’s most overcrowded hospital. This morning, figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) recorded 86 patients waiting on trolleys across the hospital’s emergency department and wards, while on the previous day, the figure stood at 118.

The hospital has come under repeated scrutiny from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which has found UHL to be understaffed and posing significant risks to patient safety. Inspections reported that patient dignity and privacy were routinely compromised in the overcrowded emergency department.

Public concern over safety at UHL intensified following the death of 16-year-old Ms Aoife Johnston in December 2022. An independent review by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke concluded her death was “almost certainly avoidable” after she waited 13.5 hours for life-saving medication. The report warned that without urgent action to address staffing and capacity, further avoidable deaths would remain an “inevitable” risk.

The emergency department at UHL is the only 24-hour facility serving the Mid West region-covering North Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, and parts of Cork and Kerry – since a controversial reconfiguration of services by Fianna Fáil government, back in 2009.
Campaign groups, including families bereaved at the hospital, continue to call for additional emergency departments to be established in the region.

Irish Government Appoint New Director General Of Forensic Science.

Irish Government announce the appointment of Dr Ciarán Seoighe as Director General of Forensic Science Ireland (FSI). His appointment will take over from his predecessor Mr Chris Enright, with effect from October 6th next, 2025.

Dr Seoighe brings senior experience in the fields of science and research, most recently as Deputy CEO of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland. Dr Seoighe joined Science Foundation Ireland in 2018, which amalgamated with the Irish Research Council to form Taighde Éireann in 2024.

He has led the Strategy and Transformation Directorate and played a key role in shaping Ireland’s strategic direction in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

Prior to this appointment, Dr Seoighe spent nearly two decades as a global management consultant, advising leading organisations across ICT, finance and more.

Thurles, Co Tipperary Racecourse Secures Short-Term Management Plan.

Thurles Racecourse Will Reopens Under Interim Management From October 9th 2025.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Molony family have confirmed interim management arrangements to ensure racing continues at Thurles Racecourse for the 2025/26 season.

In July, the Molony family announced their retirement from racing and the closure of the track. However, following consultation between HRI, the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR), the Irish Horse-racing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and the family, a short-term solution has now been agreed.

From October 2025 to March 2026, HRI’s Head of Racing, Mr Peter Roe, will oversee management of the Thurles track as part of his role with the four HRI racecourses. Operations will be managed by Ms Jessica Cahalan of Laytown Races, now contracted by the Molony family.

Mrs Riona Molony has stated that she is delighted to fund and support this short-term solution which allows the family to step back, while racing continues at their Thurles track.

The CEO of HRI Ms Suzanne Eade has thanked the Molony family for facilitating the continuation of racing at Thurles, at least until longer-term plans have been determined.
Thurles has long been fundamental to the winter racing schedule, and with industry support it is hoped that racing will now continue into the future.

The 2025/26 season will open with an all-Flat meeting on Thursday, October 9, followed by the first National Hunt fixture on Thursday, October 16.

Tipperary – Second Garda Recruitment Campaign Launched.

The second Garda Recruitment Campaign of 2025 Launched for the Garda College in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, with the Recruitment campaign to run for three weeks beginning from Thursday September 18th, 2025.

The second Garda recruitment campaign of 2025 has been announced today.

The campaign will begin on Thursday September 18th and will run for three weeks until October 9th 2025.

The first campaign of the year ran for three weeks in February last and received over 6,700 applications to join An Garda Síochána.

Last month 154 new Gardaí attested from the Garda College in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, thus bringing the total number of new Gardaí in 2025 to 423.

In total this year, 571 trainee Gardaí have entered the college including the largest intake since 2019. Another intake is scheduled for November next.

New measures will now be considered to further boost Garda recruitment, with significant steps having already been taken to boost recruitment such as extending the maximum age of entry to 50 and increasing the weekly training allowance to €354.

Prospective candidates can visit publicjobs.ie for more information on how to apply.