Finance - Thurles Information

Low Uptake Of Green Public Procurement In Government Contracts.

EPA report shows low uptake of Green Public Procurement in government department contracts.

Of €922 million spend by government departments on contracts in 2022, 34% included green criteria.
The increase in the use of green criteria (10% in 2021, 34% in 2022) is encouraging, but still at a low level.
All government departments must improve their implementation of Green Public Procurement and purchase more resource-efficient and less polluting goods, services and works.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its third report on Green Public Procurement (GPP) activity in government departments. GPP is a process where public authorities seek to source goods, services or works that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life-cycle.

The report details that out of the reported €922 million spend on contracts greater than €25,000 and signed in 2022, just 34% of the spend included green criteria. While it is encouraging to see an improvement compared to the previous year (10% in 2021, 34% in 2022), overall the use of green criteria is inconsistent across government departments and at a low level, relative to total spend.

Launching the report Ms Laura Burke, Director General, said: “Our latest report shows an encouraging increase in the implementation of Green Public Procurement by government departments. But the use of Green Public Procurement is still low, with only a quarter of in scope ICT Product contracts incorporating green criteria, and less than half in some other sectors such as transport and cleaning services. This is a missed opportunity by the Government sector to show leadership in purchasing more resource efficient and less polluting goods, services and works. For example, introduction of green criteria can deliver carbon reductions, conserve water, improve air and water quality and prevent waste.”

Summary Data.

Department.	No. of contracts over €25,000 signed in 2022 incorporating GPP.	Percentage of total spend reported on contracts over €25,000 signed in 2022 incorporating GPP.
Agriculture, Food & the Marine.	137	56%
Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth.	1	8%
Defence.	4	50%
Education.	5	7%
Enterprise, Trade & Employment.	6	57%
Environment, Climate & Communications.	7	8%
Finance.	2	67%
Foreign Affairs.	5	45%
Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science.	0	0%
Health.	4	9%
Housing, Local Government & Heritage.	5	12%
Justice.	2	not known* [value of contracts not given]*
Public Expenditure & Reform.	19	64%
Rural & Community Development.	8	96%
Social Protection.	25	17%
The Taoiseach.	10	88%
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.	3	45%
Transport.	3	100%

The EPA report sets out the following five recommendations:

Assign senior level responsibility within government departments to prioritise the incorporation of GPP into procurement processes, including the Corporate Procurement Plan.
Implement relevant actions in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications’ ‘Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027’, published April 2024.
Provide GPP training to relevant staff and ensure awareness of the available resources, such as the national GPP guidance and criteria sets and GPP Criteria Search.
Put in place systems to monitor and report on GPP
Include GPP data in Government Department Annual Reports.

The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2022 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website, HERE.

TD Highlights Land Concentration Ownership In Tipperary.

Independent TD Michael McNamara, highlights concentration of land ownership in South Co. Tipperary.

Independent TD Mr Michael McNamara has called on Dáil Éireann to set aside time for a discussion on the purchase of vast tracts of farmland in South Tipperary by Mr John Magnier and called for measures to combat further concentration of ownership.

The Independent TD for Co. Clare has expressed his concern that the accumulation of thousands of acres of land in the Golden Vale is leading to local farmers being priced out of land, at a time when the agriculture sector is already facing excessive operating costs.

Deputy McNamara said the situation reflects the ongoing, profound changes underway in rural Ireland regarding the acquisition of prime agricultural land by trust funds and the resultant negative consequences for the agriculture sector.

Addressing the Ceann Comhairle today, Deputy McNamara asked, “Will all of South Tipperary have to be owned by one man and trust funds linked to him, before the matter is debated in this house and measures are taken to prevent that concentration of land ownership, because of the economic and social consequences of that?”

Speaking during the Order of Business in Dail Éireann, the Independent TD added, “Just because one is a large donor to the parties in government should not preclude one from examination in this house.”

Following Deputy McNamara’s request, a vote on the Order of Business for this week was held and subsequently defeated by the government parties.

€10 Million Including €8 Million For Thurles Roads Announced.

Yes, there are local elections taking place shortly.

Proof of same is the announcement of the well kept-secret by Thurles Municipal District councillors that a schedule of Municipal District work, same valued at over €10 million, has now been approved by the Department of Transport.

We are also happy to announce that after a three year wait, temporally work has eventually begun on Kickham Street in the town, this morning April 5th, 2024.

Crater at Junction of Croke Street and Croke Gardens, same measuring 61cm *(2ft)* by 74cm *(2.4 ft)* across, approximately. *(Compare size with stop tap included in picture.)*

The work schedule for the area includes roads improvement and pothole maintenance, to the tune of €8 million including Barry’s bridge, [latter announced for repair back in May 2023].
The €10 million overall approved upgrade will include work on footpath improvements, safety schemes, housing maintenance, street cleaning, burial ground maintenance, maintenance of amenities and drainage works all within the Thurles District.

€1.5 million will be assigned to maintaining burial grounds, parks and open spaces, as well as street cleaning, with some €200,000 granted under the General Municipal Allocation to Village Enhancement Works, for Christmas lighting, festivals, grants and residents association supports.

Tipperary ‘Road Patchers’ Fail To Appear.

The people of Thurles have long learned not to trust locally elected councillors or elected politicians, when their lips move.

Further proof, if proof was ever in doubt, was the statement published on the Facebook page of Councillor Mr Sean Ryan, dated March 28th last 2024. View HERE. (Note: Cllr Ryan has a habit of removing comments, especially from me; from his social media pages, so this statement of his may also vanish.)

Mr Ryan had stated that, quote, “Temporary repair work will commence on Kickham St. in Thurles, on Thursday April 4th & Friday April 5th. The major scheme for Kickham St. will commence in the summer.”

The people of Kickham Street, Thurles waited all day, today April 4th, and as expected, the potholes in the road surface got deeper and the gravel and muck from previous weeks of patching, continued to hop of the front window of my home, same encouraged courtesy of failings by town engineer Mr Thomas Duffy, in what I refer to as the (view link) “Duffy Pothole Solution.”

**Damage caused by the ‘Thomas Duffy Road Surface Solution’ of pothole drainage.**
*Pic. G. Willoughby*.

I had fairly pointed out, on Cllr. Ryan’s Facebook page, that an email received by me from Ms Sharon Scully, (TMD administrator), contradicted his timeline of work scheduled for the busiest road in Thurles town, which had been initially highlighted continuously over the past 3 years.

Ms Scully’s email [dated Wed, 27th March, 18:46] read: “I can confirm that I have been to Kickham Street many times including over the last number of days and weeks.
I can further confirm that the construction phase for the N75 Liberty Square to Anner Hotel scheme in Thurles is scheduled to take place between August and December of the current year.
Temporary patching of the road will continue until this permanent work can take place.

Regards,
Sharon Scully.

**20.32 centimeters *(8 inch)* deep crater normally filled twice weekly on Kickham Street, Thurles.**
*Pic. G. Willoughby*.

Ms Scully’s reply, having visited Kickham Street, as she stated ‘many times’, further is proof that this county, at least, is governed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and not by Tipperary Co. Council officials or local Councillors.

I had also pointed out that Cllr. Ryan was involved in an advanced form of electioneering with local elections scheduled on the immediate horizon. (Pictures sent and my comment were removed by Cllr. Ryan in case Mr Micheál Martin might refer to his Facebook.)

**Road surface today on Kickham Street, Thurles, (April 4th, 2024.)**
*Pic. G. Willoughby.*

Yes, An Tánaiste Mr Micheál Martin was in Two-Mile-Borris yesterday, canvassing. He later dropped into the Arch Bar in Liberty Square, Thurles. Those rubbing of his suit jacket, included TD Mr Jackie Cahill, Cllr. Sean Ryan and European candidate Ms Cynthia Ni Murchu. (His arrival was unannounced.)

I am convinced his formal procession, latter riding in motor vehicles, entered Thurles via Mitchel Street, for surely Mr Martin would have asked why the road surface on Kickham Street, was in such a 3rd world condition entering a town.

I await my request, sent some weeks ago, on how to appeal against property tax payments made over the past 3 years, same request having been sent to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Mr Eamon Ryan, (eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie), and the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael McGrath, (michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie).

I notice TD’s within the present government set themselves above replying to requests made by those who elected them.

Is An Tánaiste, Mr Micheál Martin fully aware that the name Fianna Fáil will most likely vanish within Co. Tipperary over the period of the next 3 elections, [Local, European, and General], due to total political indifference, shown by elected representatives of his political party.

Meanwhile, with regards ‘Temporary patching‘, the waste by Tipperary Co. Council continues.

Tipperary Man Questioned Regarding Green Diesel Seizure.

A Tipperary man, aged in his 30s has been questioned, as part of the Irish Revenue Commissioner’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and other shadow economy activities.

This follows the seizure of €66,200 worth of green diesel located in Co. Tipperary. We understand that the seizure was implemented on Tuesday April 2nd last, 2024.

According to the Revenue Commissioner’s, Green diesel amounting to some 40,500 litres was discovered during a search of a haulage yard within the county.

This seizure is understood to represents a potential loss to the Irish exchequer of approximately €34,800.

Revenue are encouraging members of the public, who may have information regarding smuggling or other shadow economy activities, to contact Revenue, in total confidence, on Tel: 1800 295 295.