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As the numbers claiming welfare increases significantly, the Department of Social and Family Affairs are introducing stricter identity checks in Post Offices throughout the country for people collecting Social Welfare payments. Minister and Thurles native Mary Hanafin T.D., stated:
“Tighter security checks are necessary as part of the crackdown on those claiming a jobseeker payment while not resident in the state. People legitimately collecting a social welfare payment should be able to produce valid photographic ID, such as a Driving Licence, Passport or National Identity card. Staff working in Post Offices have to be satisfied that they are giving the right payment to the right person.”
 Notices will be displayed in all post offices throughout the country in the coming weeks advising customers collecting Social Welfare payments such as Jobseekers, One Parent Family Payment, Back to Work or Child Benefit payments that they must be able to produce a valid ID to collect their payment. An Post staff must be satisfied that they are making the correct payment to the right person. All claimants should be able to produce valid photographic ID when collecting a payment.
Minister Hanafin also outlined preliminary results of particular fraud investigations in eight areas of the country which have been ongoing since the start of March. Over 2,200 claimants were investigated, through house visits or mailshot – of these some 275 have had their claims suspended and are no longer entitled to claim a benefit from the state or are under continuing investigation.
The potential savings from stopping these claims alone would be in the region of €2million – €3million.
Of the over 2,200 claims targeted for investigation, the vast majority were in the high risk category of non-Irish nationals claiming a payment. These pose a high risk because of their mobility between countries, they may not in fact be resident in this country. However, risk of fraud is always a factor for a system as large as social welfare, and ongoing investigations cover both Irish nationals and non-Irish nationals.
Minister Hanafin stated:
“Our investigators are tackling welfare fraud on a number of different fronts as we have to ensure that only those rightfully entitled to a payment are in fact receiving it. Inspectors have paid home visits to those who are being paid benefits into their bank account (pre July 2008 claimants) and to those who are more recently being paid weekly through the local post office. Inspectors have found evidence that some claimants are no longer resident in the country or money is being paid to an individual, who is not in fact a valid claimant. For this reason, tighter identity checks are being put in place in post offices throughout the country where payments are being made. An Post staff can also alert investigators in the Department if there are any difficulties with valid ID not being produced. These reports will also be followed up, along with the ongoing fraud control checks which Social Welfare investigators are conducting.”
Social Welfare Inspectors are also engaged in investigations along the border counties as part of the multi agency checkpoints operated by An Garda Siochana and Revenue Customs and Excise and recently have intensified investigations of cross border movements for new claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Inspectors are also attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). These Social Welfare Inspectors work with the Garda Siochana in joint operations with UK Border & Immigration Agency, UK Benefits Agency and the PSNI to monitor patterns of movement through airports and ports around the country in order to detect and deter immigration abuse.
Recent investigations into 259 registered non Irish Nationalists in Co.Tipperary resulted in the payments of 32 individuals being immediately suspended.
 Recent speculation that Lisheen Mines near Thurles could be forced to close down following a global decline in zinc prices, have been totally dispelled by their company spokesman this week.
Recent media reports claimed that the parent company Anglo American PLC were planning a wind-down plan for its large zinc mine located between Moyne and Templetuohy, in the townsland of Lisheen.
The mine, which employs over 300 workers, 70% of whom are recruited locally,was reported to be losing money. Rumours may have been fueled, when Anglo American PLC announced they had completed a wide ranging review of its capital expenditure programme last December and reduced its 2009 capital expenditure by more than 50% to $4.5 billion. At this date in time the mining industry worldwide is experiencing an unprecedented period of rapid decline in commodity prices, all due to the present global economic uncertainty.
The Base Metals Division of Anglo American plc, Anglo Base Metals has interests in 14 operations in seven countries across South America, southern Africa and Europe. The company produces nickel, zinc, copper, phosphate and niobium, together with associated by-products including lead, molybdenum and silver. This division of Anglo American PLC has also several projects, across three continents, which have recently been commissioned, and are under construction. The corporate offices of Anglo Base Metals are located in London and Johannesburg, with regional offices in Santiago and São Paulo.
In September last year, Galmoy mine in Co Kilkenny, which is owned by the Canadian-based Lundin Mining Corporation, closed with the loss of 220 jobs. The operating costs at Lisheen Mine are the lowest of the three Irish zinc mines.
 The recent announcement, by the management of the computer multi-national Dell Corporation, to terminate the jobs of 1,900 workers at its Raheen Industrial estate plant in Limerick will seriously effect businesses in Tipperary County. This is because many of the employee’s commute daily from many Tipperary towns including Roscrea, Nenagh, Thurles, and Templemore.
Dell grew during the 1980s and 1990s to become the largest seller of PCs and servers. However from 2008 it held the second spot in computer-sales within the computer industry falling behind the Hewlett-Packard Company.
European officials are now to investigate a reported €52.7million aid package used by the Polish Government to charm this computer giant away from Limerick. This almost €53 million sweetener was agreed with senior Dell executives, at the same time as the company seeks to get rid of 1,900 jobs and seriously affect an estimated other 10,000 jobs in sub-supply companies reliant on Dells business. The new plant, with a cheaper workforce, will be in Łódź (means Boat) which is approximately 135 kilometres (84 mi) south-west of Warsaw.
The European Commission now state that an in-depth investigation into how this deal was struck, will be completed within the next six months. Competition Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, has stated that there are doubts whether this lucrative deal will pass strict rules on State aid.
“We need to investigate all the effects of this aid to verify that it contributes to regional development and to ensure that it will not reinforce Dell’s position or create significant capacity in a market on the decline in the European Economic Area (EEA),” Mrs Kroes stated.
European Union Competition Policy is basically applying rules to make sure that companies compete with each other in order to sell their products, through innovation and good pricing to consumers. The risk if there’s no competition policy is that companies will do deals with each other to split up the market between them, or will act in a way which does not allow competitors into the marketplace. In either case the result can be that consumers are denied access to innovative products and /or pay extremely high prices.
Concerned EU parties, including the Irish Government, will be able to offer their views when full details of this reported sweetner package is investigated and let us now hope that this new factory is not solely dependant on gas.
Now please someone explain the following?
On the 19th December 2006, we are told, that, at an event hosted by the President of Lodz, Jerzy Kropiwnicki, together with Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski in the Poznanski Palace in Lodz, Poland, the Dell Corporate Vice President Sean Corkery and Polish Minister of the Economy Piotr Wozniak, signed an agreement to inaugurate the establishment of a new factory to produce computers in Lodz, Poland. According to Dell Vice President Corkery, excavation at the site have already begun and they expect to start hiring labour in December 2006 and producing their first product in October 2007. This new factory, we are told, is potentially a €200 million investment with job creation for up to 3,000 employees. The new factory will sell to the Polish market and export to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, thus becoming a regional production and distribution center.
On Thursday, 25 January 2007, Dell again announce that it is building its most state-of-the-art factory in Łódź, Poland in the centre of the country. Its opening is planned again for autumn 2007. From this factory this technical giant aims to increase its production capabilities and meet the growing demand in central and eastern Europe. The new factory will manufacture new generation servers and laptops.
Explain how those we place in charge of our countries affairs were so oblivious to the obvious?
Perhaps it is now time to make the novel by George Orwell, entitled Animal Farm, compulsory reading, as part of our countries educational system.
 HKPB Scientific is a new biotechnology company, headquartered in the Technology Park in Thurles, Co. Tipperary has come away with a prize as the best Start up company in Munster at a recent awards ceremony.
The company was founded in 2008 by two local scientists, Dr. Brendan Kennedy and Dr. Donncha Haverty, and has developed rapidly into one of the most promising start-up companies on the Ireland.
In the All Ireland Seedcorn Business competition, a panel comprising representatives of the Irish venture capital community and cross-border state agencies analysed the business plan of the company and judged it to be the best start-up in Munster.
The company has already accessed € 300,000 in equity and state funding just one year after incorporation.
Having a strong research relationship with the University of Limerick, the company has developed four technologies and progressed two patents in the high-technology, biomedical space to an advanced stage of international protection. In addition the company is successfully implementing its business strategy to enter global markets totalling $ 20 billion annually and already has a permanent presence in the United States of America.
When asked to comment on the challenges facing scientists in the commercial space Dr. Kennedy said:
“It has been our experience that the skill-set of a scientific research Ph. D. are readily transferable to the start-up business environment. The core analytical abilities central to science are the same as those needed to assess a market and devise a viable business strategy. We would advise other scientists to consider the commercial potential of their research and we would have no hesitation in sharing the benefit of our experience to date in this regard.”
North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry speaking to Thurles.Info, praised the achievements of the fledgling company and hailed its success as a model for other local companies to emulate.
“I am delighted that a local company in the mid west has made such an impact at this early stage. We all continually hear that the development of the ‘knowledge economy’ is the key to our economic recovery and development and I hope that we see further local companies linking up with the region’s educational institutions to deliver a much needed jobs and a boost to our economy“
The company has had the support of Shannon Development from the outset and in particular the Tipperary Technology Park. The company is also supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Dr. Kennedy said:
“We are delighted with the support we have received in Thurles. Dr. Vincent Cunnane, CEO of Shannon Development and Brian Keating, director of the Tipperary Technology Park have been of enormous help in getting our company off the ground. The facilities available to HKPB Scientific, a company that is part of the knowledge economy, are excellent, particularly in terms of telecommunications. Enterprise Ireland have committed significant resources to the company to get it through its initial stages of development not just in terms of finance but also in relation to the ancillary supports they provide to facilitate start-up companies accessing markets at home and overseas” .
The core promoters of HKPB Scientific are Ph. D. graduates of the University of Limerick and two full-time academics from the Materials and Surface Science Institute at the University of Limerick, Prof. Tony Pembroke and Dr. Seamus McMonagle, sit on the company’s science advisory board.
Prof. Tony Pembroke said:
“The MSSI is committed to playing its’ role in supporting entrepreneurial researchers, such as Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Haverty, who are willing to take their innovations beyond the university environment into the commercial space.“
Dr. McMonagle added:
“The MSSI is a world class research institute and is well equipped to provide the research facilities that HKPB Scientific requires.”
 The figures given in the report released today under the National Development Plan 2007 -2013, while provisional, give us some indication of how Tipperary fared in the national share out. Actual expenditure and grant aid approved will be available early in 2009 from each of the relevant Government Departments.
FÁS – Skills & Training: In 2008, 340 Tipperary people participated in a wide range of FÁS training courses and a variety of other programmes, including apprenticeships, vocational training and in-company training. This compares with Kildare 800 persons, Donegal 1000 persons, Kilkenny and Laois – no known figures, Louth 2000 persons, Waterford 3000 persons, Cork 3,300 persons and Wicklow 122 persons.
Road networks: In Tipperary, over €70 million was allocated for national road improvements and maintenance in the county. National roads that received funding include the N7 Limerick to Nenagh, N7 Castletown to Nenagh and N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown, which opened in July. The M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel, which was opened this month at a cost of €434 million and which bypasses the towns of Littleton and Horse and Jockey. This compares with Westmeath €96.7 million, Cavan €13.24 million, Clare €6.24 million, Galway €134 million, Kilkenny €240 million and Offaly €32.7 million. The improvement of non national roads in Co.Tipperary benefited by a further €27.8 million for local projects including the Ballysloe to Clonmicklin, Templemore to Templetuohy, New Inn to Whitelands, Gormanstown to Castlegrace and Rearcross to Newport roads.
Tourism and Hospitality Sector: This sector supports 250,000 jobs throughout all Ireland. In 2008, €19 million was allocated nationally for this programme. Under the Tourism Capital Investment Programme, County Tipperary received an allocation of €1.9 million for tourism projects in 2008. Funds were approved for the Beara Breifne Walk, Terryglass Amenity Area, Cahir Brown Trout Angling Centre of Excellence and a heritage driving route in the Comeragh Mountains. Funding were also approved for Historic Trails in Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel and Tipperary Town and the Tipperary Heritage Trail. Over €1.6 million in funding was allocated in County Tipperary under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme for replacement of the swimming pools in Thurles and Roscrea.
Sports: Under the NDP funded Sports Capital Programme, €4.93 million in grants was allocated to sporting clubs and facilities in Co. Tipperary. Beneficiares were Roscrea Leisure Centre, Thurles Gaelic Sports field Society Ltd. and Holycross Ballycahill GAA Club.
Rural Economy Development: Under the Commercial Horticulture Sector scheme over €437,000 was allocated to 12 schemes in Co. Tipperary in 2008 to assist growers to produce high quality products.
Education: In County Tipperary Primary and Post-Primary schools received capital funding of over €24.3 million; schools that benefited include Silvermines National School, Kilruane National School, St. Joseph’s CBS in Nenagh and Borrisokane Community College. The Tipperary Institute received over €157,000 for minor capital works.
Childcare services: Co. Tipperary were allocated funding of over €3.5 million in 2008. Services that benefited include Holycross Community Childcare and Whizz Kids Montessori in Thurles, Ballingarry Community Council and Learning Through Fun, Nenagh.
Housing Funding: Over €2 million was allocated for voluntary housing provisions during the year, and projects funded include homes at Roscrea, Thurles, Cashel and Clonmel.
Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009: Funding to upgrade and expand water treatment capacity, improve drinking water quality and supply and improve and expand waste water treatment in County Tipperary was over €213 million. Schemes funded in 2008 which were completed include Thurles Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Enterprise Boards: During 2008, the Tipperary County Enterprise Board was allocated €1.6 million. Among the companies supported were Feileacan Accessories in Clonmel, The Apple Farm in Cahir and Digino Ltd. in Ballina.
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