Finance « Thurles Information

Thurles Waiting: Relief Road Moves Forward, Bypass Kicked Down the Road.

Tipperary County Council has confirmed it now owns all the land needed for the long-promised Thurles Inner Relief Road.
But with no funding in place for construction, locals fear it is yet another stalling tactic while the badly needed, long awaited Bypass Ring Road is left on the back-burner until at least 2040.

**The now forgotten ‘Thurles Bypass’ plans**.

The scheme, first floated years ago, would provide a 1.1 km road link from Slievenamon Road at the Clongour Road junction (N62) to Mill Road. It would include five new junctions, a 50-metre arch bridge across the River Suir, and associated lighting. The land, all of it lying within the Suir River floodplain, has been purchased by the Council, though the cost of same remains undisclosed.

Land granted courtesy of other residents along the Mill Road will allow for a long awaited footpath extension to form part of a safe walking route in the area, affectionately known currently as “Fat Arse Boulevard”.

Traffic modelling suggests the additional bridge might, cut congestion in the town centre at best by 15%.

But for many residents, the fanfare around this land acquisition rings hollow. Without construction funding, the Inner Relief Road risks remaining just another paper project for between 3-5 years.

Locals argue this recent announcement is designed to mask the continued failure to deliver a 50 year old Ring Road plan; latter a project seen as essential to tackle an ever increasing gridlock in the town.

Once again, they say, Thurles has been left waiting and badly let down by local politicians latter who have two offices funded by taxpayers within the town centre.

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.

Irish Government Announce €1.75 Million Fund For IPAS Family Support.

The Irish Government announces a €1.75 million fund to support children, young people, and families in International Protection Accommodation (IPAS).

Fund will be delivered locally through Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC).
CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people with projects designed to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in IPAS.
This 2025 Funding Framework was designed in collaboration with the CYPSC National Office at Tusla – Child and Family Agency.
Tipperary CYPSC to run a project promoting community integration by linking children staying in IPAS accommodation with local sports clubs.

CYPSC are a key structure identified by Government to plan and co-ordinate services for children and young people in every county in Ireland. Policy and strategic direction for the CYPSC initiative is provided by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. There are 27 CYPSC nationwide and operational leadership is provided by TUSLA – Child and Family Agency through CYPSC National Office.

CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people in each county. CYPSC work to enhance interagency co-operation at both a local and national level with the goal of improving outcomes for children and young people (including those aged 0-24 years).

The CYPSC international protection fund was first established in 2023. The fund has successfully delivered a broad range of initiatives supporting children and young people seeking international protection in Ireland.

The framework for the 2025 fund was designed in collaboration with CYPSC National Office within Tusla – Child and Family Agency. The framework sets out the objectives, scope, and operational details of the fund. Local CYPSC were invited to propose a range of initiatives and projects falling under a range of objectives.

The objectives, which are aligned with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, include:

Community Integration.
Health and wellbeing.
Supports for Parents.
Emergency Accommodation.
Pathways to Independence.

Some examples of the projects selected to receive funding this year and that will be delivered by CYPSC, in collaboration with local partners, include:

Tipperary CYPSC: Same will run a project promoting community integration by linking children staying in IPAS accommodation with local sports clubs.
Kildare CYPSC: Same will provide an educational project for 18-24 year olds looking at career options, horticultural training and experience, language supports, CV and interview preparation supports, job readiness skills, and personal development.
Cork CYPSC: Same will run a project that aims to enable parents in emergency IPAS accommodation to teach their children culturally aligned cooking skills and good eating habits.
Donegal CYPSC: Same will provide a surf camp that will serve as a platform for intercultural exchange by encouraging teamwork, mutual understanding, and friendships for children and young people from diverse backgrounds.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown CYPSC: Same will provide access to a Sensory Attachment Intervention programme useful for children and adults who have suffered trauma.

‘One19 Coffee’ May Be Coming To Thurles.

Notice has been given in accordance with Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001, pursuant to powers contained in Section 211 of the planning & Development Act 2000, with regards to the disposal of property known as Thurles Market Place, Cathedral Street, Thurles, which is now set for consideration at a meeting of the Council on Monday next, September 8th, 2025.

**Up-to-date** **state of Thurles Market Place, currently under construction.**
*Pic: G. Willoughby*.

We understand that Tipperary Co. Council sought submissions from interested parties to operate a Cafe within the soon to be fully developed/completed ‘Thurles Market Quarter‘ area.
Same was part of a regeneration initiative, funded through the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund (RRDF begun in 2019), and was designed to enhance the vibrancy, in this case Thurles town, which over the past 4 years has lost over 60% of its footfall, through poor forced planning.
Following an assessment of submissions by the Council it is now recommended that ‘One19 Coffee’ be awarded the contract under a 5 year lease period.

One19 Coffee.
On any given weekday, as you drive through Templemore Town, you will be greeted by the sight of people queuing outside of ‘One19 Coffee‘. What began as a small coffee shop, has successfully expanded to offer cakes, snacks, sandwiches, açaí bowls (latter a thick, smoothie-like nutrient-rich fruit treat made from pureed and frozen açaí berries), together with a wide range of other ‘light bites’.
It now enjoys a devoted and ever-growing customer base, with young and old traveling from Thurles and indeed all over Tipperary, to enjoy great coffee and quality food.

Today we just learned that a coffee and light bite from ‘One19 Coffee’ may no longer require a trip to Templemore. In a move that many will welcome, ‘One19 Coffee’ may soon open its doors in Thurles, in the old re-constructed stone 1849 shed building on Cathedral Street in the town.

The quality reputation of ‘One19’ will surely boost footfall to the Thurles Town Park, if confirmed. If ‘One19’ are successful they will rent this stone building at a cost of €1,750:00 per month and will commit to signing a 5 year lease.

Who wouldn’t agree that this seems great in theory?
In terms of local development, ‘One19’ coupled with an attractive albeit costly canopy roofed marketplace yet to be completed and paid for by taxpayer funding; same is arguably positive steps in the right direction.

Nevertheless, as they say in real estate circles, a property’s worth boils down to three things – location, location, location!
‘One19 Coffee’ in Templemore has greatly benefited from its prime location near one of Tipperary’s most beautiful parks. Latter is meticulously landscaped and looked after; boasting a recently upgraded playground, Templemore Park is indeed a tourist attraction in and of itself.

The Playground in Thurles Town Park is also enjoyed daily and is adjacent to an excellent Library, Theatre and Leisure Centre. Although all these man-made structures are attractive (the permanently closed skating park being the exception), in contrast to Templemore the natural surroundings in Thurles Town Park are seen as sorely neglected; even abandoned; polluted and smells to high heaven, caused by a lack of action on the part of Council Officials.

Time now to call on Tipperary County Council to see this project to a successful end and once and for all invest funding to clean up the river and develop the riverside walk.

At a minimum can the rent from ‘One19 Coffee’ and funds raised from other market and festival events being paid for by taxpayers, be reinvested in Thurles and not simply disappear back into the coffers of Tipperary County Council.

Wouldn’t we all relish the sight of happy families and customers queuing for food and enjoying the beauty of a revitalised River Suir and Riverside walk? Here’s hoping it will be part of our near future.

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