Environment « Thurles Information

EPA Highlights Significant Increase In Government Green Procurement.

EPA Highlights Significant Increase In Government Green Procurement, But ICT Sector Lags Behind.

Of €1.24 billion spend by government departments on contracts in 2023, 82 per cent included green criteria, up from 34 per cent in 2022. There are, however, inconsistencies across sectors.
ICT Products & Services contracts included green criteria in only 29 per cent of cases, indicating the need for wider adoption.
In contrast, all reported procurement of Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment, included green criteria, with a total value of €583,447.
Eight government departments lacked a formal system for tracking Green Public Procurement (GPP) implementation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its fourth report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) adoption by government departments. GPP allows public authorities to source goods, services or works that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle while also achieving value for money.

A total spend of €1.24 billion across 18 government departments was reported. Of this, 82 per cent of contracts, valued at €1.02 billion, included green criteria (compared to 34 per cent in 2022).

GPP implementation varied widely across government departments, with the number of contracts incorporating GPP ranging from zero to 100%. There was an inconsistency in application of green criteria across product & services sectors, with high adoption reported for Food & Catering Services and Heating Equipment (100%), but low adoption in contracts for ICT Products & Services (29%).

Launching the report Ms Laura Burke, Director General, said: “This report shows a welcome increase in the use of green public procurement by central government. Full adoption across all government departments is a powerful lever to achieve better economic and environmental value as well as showing leadership in a transition to a greener, more circular economy. The EPA has developed practical guidance to support Government Departments and other public bodies to accelerate green purchasing.”

Tracking of GPP remains an issue to be addressed with eight of the 18 Government Departments lacking a formal system for tracking GPP implementation.

Mr David Flynn, Director, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability added: “Government, local authorities and other public sector organisations collectively procure over €18 billion worth of goods, services and works. Whilst it is important that GPP is used by government departments, a broader adoption across the entire public sector will ensure that public funds are used effectively and responsibly while reducing the environmental impact of our public services.”

The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2023 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website HERE.

Health & Environment At Risk As Half Of Septic Tanks Fail Inspection.

Half of septic tanks failed inspection, putting householders’ health and environment at risk, says EPA.

Local authorities completed 1,390 septic tank inspections in 2024, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
56% of septic tanks failed inspection. It is critically important that householders maintain their septic tanks as such failures have the potential to be a risk to their family’s health and the environment.
82% of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed by the end of 2024, which shows continued improvement. This has been aided by an increased uptake in grants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2024.

Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. The EPA’s National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 requires local authorities to complete a minimum of 1,200 inspections annually, targeted near rivers and in areas where septic tanks are co-located with household drinking water wells. 1,390 septic tanks were inspected in 2024 with 56% (773) failing because they were not built or maintained properly.

When septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The EPA report found that 82% of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed, (81% in Co. Tipperary) up from 75% at the end of 2021. The number of advisory notices open more than two years decreased for the first time, from 576 at the end of 2023, to 523 at the end of 2024.

Water Authority.	Inspections Required 2024	Inspections done 2024.	Failure rate 2024	Systems failing 2013-2024.	Percent fixed at end 2024.
Tipperary.	40.	42.	31%	182.	81%

Commenting on the report, Dr Micheál Lehane, (Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring) said: “The reduction in the number of old advisory notices (over two years) is to be welcomed, however, the number not resolved remains unacceptably high, allowing risks to public health and the environment to continue. Greater and sustained enforcement effort is needed by local authorities during their annual septic tank inspections, checking that faulty septic tanks are fixed and taking legal action where necessary.”

The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. There were 265 grants awarded in 2024, totalling nearly €2.5 million, up from 194 grants in 2023.

Mr Noel Byrne, (EPA Programme Manager) said: “More than half of septic tanks failed inspection, which is a real concern. Householders’ water supplies and local rivers may be exposed to contamination from faulty septic tanks, which can pose a serious health risk to individuals and the local environment. By maintaining their septic tank and fixing any problems identified, householders will protect their health and the environment. Householders should take advantage of the enhanced grants where applicable.”

The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 – 2026 was published by the EPA in 2021. The plan requires a minimum of 1,200 inspections from 2023 onwards. There was a shortfall in inspections by four local authorities (Limerick, Donegal, Wexford and Leitrim) in 2024 and these need to be completed in 2025. The EPA will continue to monitor local authorities that are required to make up these shortfalls in 2025.

The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, is available on the EPA’s website.

Cinnabar Moth Spotted In Thurles, Co. Tipperary In April.

Spotted here in Thurles on Monday last, the first Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) of the season. Native to Ireland and indeed Europe, Cinnabar moths are daytime-flying moths, with distinctive pinkish-red and black wings.

**Left -Right: (1) Cinnabar Moth – (2) Cinnabar** *(Chinese red, Mercuric Sulfide)* **– (3) Ragwort.**

Cinnabar moths measure about 20mm (0.79in) in length with a wingspan of some 32–42mm (1.3–1.7in) and acquires its named from the red mineral Cinnabar, because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings.

Interesting to note that this moth has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control Ragwort (latter poisonous to horses and other livestock), on which its larvae feed.
This Ragwort diet, eaten by their pale yellow and black striped larvae, leaves them unpalatable to their would-be predators. Females can lay up to 300 eggs, in batches of 30 to 60 on the underside of Ragwort leaves and their caterpillars being voracious eaters; a large population can strip entire patches of ragwort clean, within a very short period of time.

Though not considered very rare in Ireland, the Cinnabar moth remains, annually, in grave danger due to the Noxious Weeds Act of 1936, which makes it an offence for the owner or occupier of lands not to prevent the growth and spread of Ragwort. In 2020, some 52 “notices to destroy” were issued to land owners, by the Department of Agriculture, for the presence of Ragwort being on their property and in 2021, some 22 such notices were also issued.
Many caterpillars will starve if their food runs out before they are fully grown, so as competition intensifies the caterpillars become more aggressive and may even turn to cannibalism in their quest for calories.

Thurles Town Strangled By Traffic Admits An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin.

Speaking in Dáil Éireann the newly elected north Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD Mr Ryan O’Meara, has concurred that the town of Thurles is being strangled by traffic issues; requiring immediate attention for an inner relief road. Same, if funding was provided, would link the N62 at Slievenamon Road to the Mill Road, thus providing a third vehicle bridge.

**Proposed Inner Relief Road for Thurles**

[Funny that, VIEW HERE. Back in 2021, we here in Thurles were previously informed that funding had already been acquired.]

However, many residents believe that Mr Ryan O’Meara has been fed false or inaccurate information and most business leaders see the proposed inner relief road as further waste of public funding.
An inner relief road already exists via the Mill Road, same entering and exiting south of Thurles at Turtulla Cross on the N62, which has seen 3 vehicles crash and be written-off, within the past 12 months.

Any new inner relief will only permit the exit and entering of vehicles closer into the town centre, with HGV traffic still required to travel to the four corners of Ireland, directly through our medieval streetscapes, which for the past 4 years have become a bottle neck, currently existing for all vehicles attempting to pass through Thurles town centre.

The only piece of common sense and perhaps even a small glimmer of hope was expressed by An Taoiseach, Mr Micheál Martin TD, responding to our misinformed, raw recruit, Mr Ryan O’Meara.
Mr Martin stated that the long queues of traffic being experienced, would become a thing of the past, if Thurles had a ring road/bypass and he would try to feed that into an expected review of the present National Development Plan.

As for Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Ryan O’Meara’s speech interjection in Dáil Éireann; same was perceived and smelled of the scent of a vote catching press release, same greedily accepted from his Nenagh office by local press, who were obviously experiencing a slow news day.

Update On Allied Irish Bank’s Sponsorship Of One Hundred Million Trees Project.

Readers will be aware of previous discussions regarding the “One Hundred Million Trees Project”, sponsored by Allied Irish Bank (AIB), situated on Liberty Square, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Hereunder, please view a video, taken on the day of the planting, featuring so many of our local secondary school pupils.

This ambitious initiative, which deployed a novel planting technique perfected in Japan, known as The Miyawaki Method, is well on course to plant 550,000 trees across Ireland at hundreds of sites, by May of this year.
The project’s ambitious aim is to densely plant between 1,000 and 2,500 native Irish trees at a time across small areas of land using this ‘the Miyawaki method’, named after Japanese Botanist, Professor Akira Miyawaki.
This method of overplanting trees has been successful in creating over 1,700 forests worldwide, including three established forests here in Ireland.
By planting excess trees together, they grow considerably faster, denser, are more biodiverse, and most importantly create a very rapid carbon sink. This inexpensive approach requires significantly smaller planting areas and can be conducted on unused or fallow land across Ireland.
Dense areas of afforestation can also actually play a role in reducing the impact of forest fires, while at the same time provide excellent areas of biodiversity.
Thurles.Info will be returning to this area within the next few weeks to observe at first hand the progress made, following the planting of these trees.