Ireland is set to introduce tougher penalties for littering, with on-the-spot fines increasing by €100 from September 1st 2026. The current fine of €150 will rise to €250 as part of a renewed effort to protect towns, villages, beaches, parks, green-ways and other shared public spaces.
Minister of State for the Circular Economy Mr Alan Dillon said the increase is intended to send a clear message that littering and dog fouling will not be tolerated. The move comes alongside the publication of the 2025 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System results, which show that litter levels across the country have improved.
New Support for Cleaner Communities. A new €250,000 fund is also being introduced to help local authorities keep public areas clean. Councils will be able to apply for funding to support practical measures such as extra dog waste bins and bag dispensers in places where they are most needed. Here in Thurles, a few extra bins at the lower end of the public park and river walk might encourage people from dumping directly into the river Suir.
The aim is to make it easier for responsible dog owners to clean up after their pets and to reduce the amount of dog fouling in public spaces. Local authorities will receive a circular outlining how they can apply for the funding.
Dog Fouling Enforcement Under Review. Dog fouling remains a major challenge, despite only 48 fines being issued nationwide last year. Minister Dillon said officials are examining whether DNA testing of dog droppings could help identify owners who fail to clean up after their pets.
One idea being considered is linking dog DNA samples with dog licences, so enforcement officers could trace fouling back to registered animals. However, the minister said the cost and practicalities must be reviewed before any such system could be introduced. He added that Ireland should look at examples from other European countries before deciding whether DNA-based enforcement is workable here.
Sinn Féin, like Father Murphy, will attempt to “Spur up the rocks with a warning cry”, here in Thurles.
There is no doubt that households in Thurles, across Tipperary, and throughout Ireland are under real pressure. Electricity bills, grocery prices, rents, mortgage repayments, insurance, childcare and transport costs have all eaten into family budgets. Nobody in Government should dismiss that. But equally, nobody in Opposition should pretend that reliefs, credits, freezes and subsidies come without a cost.
That is the part of the cost-of-living debate that too often gets lost. The crisis Ireland has faced was not invented in Leinster House, Dublin. It came from a series of international shocks; the aftermath of Covid-19, supply-chain disruption, the surge in gas and oil prices, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, higher food and fertiliser costs, and interest-rate rises across the eurozone. Ireland, as a small open economy, cannot simply opt out of global energy markets or European monetary policy. The Government can cushion the blow, and it has done so, but it cannot abolish reality.
Budget 2026 shows the Government trying to do that difficult balancing act. It increased most weekly social welfare payments by €10, increased Fuel Allowance by €5 per week, extended the 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas to the end of 2030, extended the Rent Tax Credit, and adjusted the USC band so minimum-wage workers would not be pulled into the higher rate because of the minimum-wage increase. These are not slogans; they are practical measures aimed at helping people, while keeping the public finances under control.
That is the difference between responsible government and permanent protest. Government has to decide not only what people would like to receive, but how it is paid for, who pays for it, and what is sacrificed elsewhere.
Sinn Féin’s alternative budget proposed a €2.5 billion cost-of-living package, including €450 energy credits, a double child benefit payment, higher welfare and pension increases, rent measures and the abolition of USC on the first €40,000 of income. Those proposals may sound attractive when listed at a public meeting. Who would not like lower bills, higher payments, lower taxes and cheaper rent? But politics is not a wishing well. A €2.5 billion package must be funded by someone.
And that “someone” is usually the worker, the taxpayer, the business owner, or the next generation.
If the State pays for broad energy credits, the money comes from taxation, borrowing, or less spending elsewhere. If taxes are raised on “someone else,” they rarely stay neatly confined there. Business taxes can affect investment and jobs. Higher taxes on workers reduce take-home pay. Borrowing passes today’s relief bill to tomorrow’s taxpayers. Cutting or delaying spending elsewhere means less money for housing, schools, hospitals, roads, disability services, Garda resources, water infrastructure and energy investment.
This is why the Government is right to be cautious about turning every pressure into a permanent spending commitment. Ireland’s public finances look strong on paper, but independent watchdogs have repeatedly warned that the headline figures hide real risks. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council warned in June 2026 that Ireland remains heavily reliant on corporation tax from a small number of foreign-owned multinationals. It also said that, excluding excess corporation tax, the State is forecast to have an underlying deficit of €11 billion this year. That means we are not as flush with money as some political speeches expected from Sinn Féin suggest.
The same watchdog warned that most corporation tax receipts are being spent rather than saved, with only €1 in every €6 being set aside under the Government’s plan. It also warned that spending growth is running faster than the sustainable growth rate of the economy. These are not Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil talking points. They are warnings from Ireland’s independent fiscal watchdog.
The Central Bank has also warned that Ireland faces downside risks to exports and corporation tax receipts if US tax or industrial policy changes, with possible effects on investment and incomes. In plain English, the tax money we are relying on today may not be guaranteed tomorrow.
That is why the Government cannot responsibly govern as though every surplus is permanent and every demand can be met by writing another cheque.
Of course, Opposition parties will always say more should be done. That is their job. But there is a danger in turning every genuine hardship into a rallying cry against the State. Public meetings can easily become exercises in stirring-up anger, rather than solving problems. The old cry of “Arm, arm” may be poetic, but it is not an economic policy. Ireland does not need a politics that spurs up resentment while avoiding the hard question: who pays?
The responsible answer is that support should be targeted, temporary where possible, and affordable. Help should go to those most exposed: pensioners, carers, low-income workers, families with children, people with disabilities, and households facing energy poverty. But permanent giveaways funded by unstable revenues or future borrowing are not compassion. They are deferred taxation.
The Government’s position should be defended because it recognises both sides of the truth: people need help, but the State must remain solvent; households need relief, but workers cannot be taxed into the ground; today’s pressure is real, but tomorrow’s taxpayers also matter.
There is no such thing as free cost-of-living relief. There is only a choice about who pays, when they pay, and whether politicians are honest enough to admit it.
Ireland needs action, yes. But it also needs prudence, honesty and responsibility. Demanding everything immediately may win applause in a public meeting. Governing requires asking whether the applause today becomes the tax bill tomorrow.
Residents and motorists using Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, faced fresh disruption this morning after crews moved in to carry out further fibre/telecoms-related works along the street.
Newly installed footpaths ripped up yet again, with no notice of single lane Stop & Go traffic delays by Tipperary Co. Council; by Virgin Media or by WhiteKight Civils & Utilities latter undertaking the work.
The works, understood locally to be connected with Virgin Media infrastructure, involved barriers, cones and a mini-digger fitted with a jackhammer operating immediately outside homes and businesses. The activity has caused concern among residents, particularly as the pavements affected were only newly installed in recent weeks.
Locals claim no written warning or advance notification was given to householders before machinery arrived. Residents also expressed frustration that one of the busiest routes into and out of Thurles was reduced to a single lane, creating delays and raising fears of heavier congestion later in the day, particularly when parents travel to collect children from local schools.
Concerns have also been raised about the manner in which the works were being carried out. Residents reported personnel operating in a confined roadside area, with traffic moving nearby, while householders said vibrations from the jackhammer caused homes to shake. Some also complained of difficulty contacting Tipperary County Council, with one resident claiming it took roughly 20 minutes to get through, but without receiving any satisfactory clarification. Directly on a triple junction personnel have no radios and no con saw, resulting in stop signs not in use and an incessant vibrating high pitched hammering sound.
This latest disruption follows earlier concerns reported on Thurles.info regarding fibre/telecoms cabling repairs and the lack of written notice to affected homeowners. That earlier report also highlighted questions around responsibility, communication and delays linked to fibre infrastructure in the area.
The immediate issue for Kickham Street residents is not simply the inconvenience of roadworks. It is the apparent lack of communication, the repeated disturbance to recently completed public footpaths, and the effect on householders, pedestrians, businesses and motorists.
With evening school traffic expected to add further pressure, motorists are advised to avoid the Kickham Street area where possible and use alternative routes until the works are completed.
Residents are now calling on Tipperary County Council and Virgin Media, or their appointed contractors, to explain why newly laid pavements are being disturbed, why householders were not notified in advance, and when the street will be fully restored.
Online shoppers in Ireland who regularly buy low-cost items from websites outside the European Union may soon face extra costs at delivery or checkout.
From 1st July 2026, a new €3 Customs Duty charge per item will apply to many e-commerce parcels valued at €150 or less coming into Ireland from outside the EU. This includes goods bought from websites based in Britain, Asia, the United States and other non-EU countries. This change is part of the EU’s wider Customs Reform and is designed to make online imports fairer, safer and easier to monitor.
What Is Changing? At present, there is no Customs Duty on e-commerce goods entering the EU, where the value of the goods is €150 or less, although VAT and delivery-related charges may still apply.
From 1st July 2026, that duty-free rule will change. A flat €3 Customs Duty will apply to each distinct item in a qualifying parcel sent directly to consumers from outside the EU. This means the charge is not simply applied once per package. It depends on what is inside the package. For example, if a parcel contains one notepad, one pen and one keyring, these are three different items. Each item would attract a €3 charge, bringing the Customs Duty to €9, plus VAT where applicable. However, if a parcel contains two identical cotton t-shirts, they are treated as one distinct item type. In that case, the Customs Duty would be €3, plus VAT where applicable.
Why Is The EU Introducing The Charge? The EU says the current system no longer reflects the scale of modern online shopping. The existing duty-free rule for low-value imports was originally introduced to reduce administrative pressure on businesses and customs authorities. However, customs systems are now far more digital, meaning electronic data is available for imported goods. The European Commission has also highlighted the huge growth in low-value imports into the EU. In 2025, almost 5.9 billion low-value items were shipped directly from non-EU countries to consumers in the EU without customs duties being paid. EU authorities say this has created unfair competition for European and Irish retailers, who must comply with EU tax, safety, labour and environmental standards. The reform is also aimed at improving consumer protection by helping customs authorities identify unsafe or non-compliant goods before they reach shoppers.
How Shoppers Will Pay. In many cases, the €3 charge may be collected at the online checkout. Larger platforms and retailers may include the duty in the final price before the customer pays. However, not every website will be ready or able to collect the charge upfront. Where the duty is not paid at checkout, the delivery company may collect the charge before the parcel is delivered. This could mean shoppers have to pay the Customs Duty, VAT and any relevant administration fee before receiving their order. Therefore consumers are being advised to check the website’s terms and conditions before buying, especially when ordering from smaller non-EU retailers.
Extra Delivery Admin Fees May Apply. Where customs charges are not paid at checkout, the delivery company may apply its own administration fee for processing the payment and holding the parcel until charges are paid. An Post already applies an administration fee in certain customs cases. This is separate from the new EU Customs Duty and applies to the parcel rather than to every individual item inside it. This means shoppers could face more than one extra cost if charges are not collected at checkout; the new €3 Customs Duty per distinct item, VAT where applicable, and a delivery company administration fee.
NOTE: A “.ie” Website Does Not Always Mean EU Shipping. Irish shoppers are also being urged to check where goods are actually shipped from. A website may use a “.ie” domain, show prices in euro or appear to be aimed at Irish customers, but the goods may still be shipped from outside the EU. If the goods are located in Ireland or another EU country at the time of purchase, the new Customs Duty will not apply. But if the goods are shipped from outside the EU, the charge may apply even if the website looks local. Before buying, shoppers should check the retailer’s “About Us”, delivery information and terms and condition pages to confirm where the goods are dispatched from.
Returns Could Also Cost More These new rules may also affect returns. Revenue has warned that the €3 Customs Duty will generally not be refunded if a customer returns an item, unless the goods are faulty. VAT refunds may also vary depending on the retailer and how that business handles VAT. This means returning cheap items bought from outside the EU could become less attractive, especially where the original purchase involved multiple low-cost products.
Beware Of Scam Texts And Fake Payment Links. With the new customs rules coming into effect, shoppers should also be alert to scam messages. An Post has warned that it will never ask customers to pay Irish customs charges through a link in an SMS or email. If a message asks you to click a link to pay customs charges on an item coming into Ireland, it should be treated as suspicious. Customers who need to pay a genuine customs charge should do so through the official An Post website, the An Post app or at a post office.
What Shoppers Should Do Before Buying. Before placing an order from a non-EU website, shoppers should check:
where the goods are being shipped from;
whether customs duty is included at checkout;
whether VAT is included;
whether the delivery company may charge an administration fee;
what the retailer’s returns policy says about VAT and customs refunds;
whether the final price still represents good value.
The change will not stop people buying from non-EU websites, but it may make very cheap online orders less appealing, particularly when several different low-cost items are included in the same parcel.
For Irish consumers, the message is clear: from July 1st 2026, the price shown beside a cheap online item may not be the final cost of getting it delivered.
Fine Gael TD for Co. Clare, Mr Joe Cooney has received confirmation from Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Mr Peter Burke, that a leading Irish company is expected to announce a significant investment in Shannon this summer.
Raising the issue the Dáil during a Topical Issue debate on industrial development and employment opportunities in the Mid-West region, (latter which covers three counties: Tipperary, Clare and Limerick, with a population of 473,269 or about 9.94% of Ireland’s total population), Deputy Joe Cooney said the expected announcement would be a strong boost for the region.
Deputy Cooney said the development would be a key step in strengthening the region as a counterbalance to Dublin’s economic concentration. He stated, “The over concentration of development in Dublin is not just a Dublin issue, it is a national planning challenge. The Mid-West, and Shannon in particular, can and should act as a counterbalance, providing space, capacity and opportunity for sustainable economic growth.” He further stated that Shannon has the infrastructure and capacity to support major investment, “Shannon offers what Dublin increasingly cannot, including space for enterprise, aviation development, space for housing, and space within the planning system to move with speed and ambition. That is why it is ideally placed to support Ireland’s next phase of balanced regional development.”
Minister Burke told the Dáil that the Mid-West region was “uniquely positioned” for enterprise growth and confirmed that a major announcement was expected later this summer.
He continued, “There will be a very significant announcement during the summer by a leading Irish-born company in relation to Shannon. This will be a strong testament to the work of Government in providing key infrastructure and supporting a highly skilled workforce.”
The Minister added that Government policy was focused on “unlocking the full economic potential of all regions”, highlighting Shannon Airport, Foynes Port and strong links with third-level institutions in the Mid-West. Deputy Cooney said the region must continue to be developed as a genuine alternative economic hub, “Balanced regional development cannot just be a policy aspiration. It has to be delivered in practice. Shannon has the assets, the talent and the ambition to play a central role in delivering that balance.”
He said he would continue to work with Government, agencies and local stakeholders to secure further investment and employment opportunities in the region.
The details of the investment are expected to be announced later this summer.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments