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 Telephone0818 111113 or 071 91 93318
Thurles, Co. Tipperary’s Racecourse To Reopen for October Fixtures After Reprieve
Thurles Race Course
Thurles Racecourse will reopen on Thursday, October 9th, after receiving a last-minute reprieve that will see it host all 11 of its scheduled fixtures through to March 2026.
The Co Tipperary track, regarded as one of Ireland’s most historic National Hunt venues, had shocked the racing community on August 1st when its owners, the Molony family, announced it was closing with immediate effect.
Following urgent talks, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has now agreed to take over the running of the racecourse until the end of the current fixture list. The arrangement is intended to give all parties time to draw up a longer-term plan for the future of the venue.
In a joint statement, HRI and Thurles Race Company said: “Following a positive meeting yesterday afternoon between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony family, Thurles Race Company will facilitate the continuation of horse racing at Thurles Racecourse until March 2026, with operational responsibility passing to Horse Racing Ireland.”
The statement added that the agreement was made possible with the support of the Association of Irish Racecourses, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, and the wider industry.
The October reopening will be welcomed by racing fans, with Thurles long regarded as a favourite testing ground for Ireland’s top jump trainers and a regular stepping stone for horses destined for Cheltenham and beyond.
The Dundrum House Golf & Leisure Resort situated in Co Tipperary has been forced to close with immediate effect, resulting in the loss of 48 jobs.
The company said the business had continued to operate at a loss and was no longer able to meet its financial obligations. A 30-day collective redundancy consultation process with employees is expected to begin later this week.
Dundrum House Golf & Leisure Resort. Pic: G.Wlloughby.
An IPAS accommodation centre on the Dundrum House campus, which is operated independently, is not expected to be affected by the closure.
Brogan Capital Ventures, which owns and operates the golf resort, informed staff today that the company would cease trading. The decision affects the restaurant, bar, golf course, driving range, golf shop and leisure centre.
In a statement, Brogan Capital Ventures said it very much regretted the adverse impact of this decision on its valued employees, golf and leisure centre members, customers, suppliers, the local community and other stakeholders. However, they state that the closure is unavoidable given the state of the company’s current financial affairs.
€30 Million realignment project has finally received approval for the R498, an area situated between Thurles and Nenagh.
The R498 realignment will take place in the Latteragh area between Thurles and Nenagh.
Funding of €20 million approved for civil works.
€4 million already allocated for design, consultancy, and land compensation.
Tipperary County Council has confirmed that a major road improvement project for the R498 is now set to proceed.
The scheme, with estimated costings of some €30 million, is expected to deliver significant safety upgrades through the realignment of a section of the R498 route close to Latteragh. The Department of Transport has approved €20 million in funding to appoint a civil works contractor, who is expected to undertake a two-year programme necessary to complete the works.
R498 Thurles to Nenagh Road , Co. Tipperary.
This funding is in addition to some €4 million which has already been set aside to cover design fees, consultancy services, and compensation payable to landowners, affected by the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process. Compensation offers issued to all landowners, have been accepted by some, with the remainder under negotiation with valuers.
The existing R498 at Latteragh is a single carriageway, 4.3km in length, which follows the contours around the Latteragh hills, adjacent to the meandering Nenagh River. These bends have led to the road having a sub-standard cross-section resulting in numerous vehicle collisions in the past. The scheme is located approximately 7km south-east of the M7 Nenagh Bypass and as stated, involves the improvement of approximately 4.3km of the existing R498 route.
A shared footway/cycle track is proposed along the length of the scheme, utilising sections of the old road alignment and within the proposed verge along one side of the road, which will have a design speed of 85km/h. The existing three junctions are being improved as part of the scheme, with the provision of a right/left staggered ghost island junction at each junction. There are also two single span bridge crossings over the Nenagh River with reinforced soil construction proposed for the wing-walls.
Some advance works have already been undertaken since last year, which included fencing and site clearance, along with archaeological investigations.
This project will be seen to represents a major investment in road safety and regional infrastructure, with the realignment of this section addressing long-standing safety concerns and providing a modern, reliable transport link between Thurles and Nenagh.
Temporary repairs which were undertaken this week on the surface of Slievenamon Road, has been successful.
Machine planing of this 200 metre section was undertaken on the night of July 29th last and total resurfacing was completed on the following night, thus greatly improving what was previously the most potholed streetscape of any town in Europe.
Section of road at the junction incline on Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher (R659).
Sadly, to quote Mr Bertie Ahern’s old slogan from many past Irish General Elections, quote, “A lot done, but a lot more to do”.
Perhaps local councillors and their officials would like to take a peek at the public thoroughfare at the junction of Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher on the R659, opposite the Honda car dealership of Denis Kinane Motors.
Twice a week over the past number of years this area received a couple of shovels of cold tarmac; often beaten into pools of water. Two mounds of torn up loose gravel now forms two hillock on this steep incline, requiring same to be removed and more permanent repairs undertaken, as soon as possible.
When finished there, the entrance to Westgate might receive further consideration.
Lest, in our daily haste we forget, motor tax revenues generated an estimated €6.5 to €7.0 billion for the Irish Exchequer last year, according to reports. The Irish State received over €1.6 billion from both the Vehicle Registration Tax on new and imported cars and the VAT on servicing parts and repairs. It also received almost €4.0 billion from fuel taxes and an estimated €1.0 billion from annual motor taxes. Based on the appearances of road surfaces over the past almost 4 years, it appears that Thurles town is entitled only to the odd daily shovel of cold tarmac to fill its craters.
Time now for these areas to be surface planed and resurfaced and stop wasting the precious time and energy of a skilled council worker force.
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