Finance « Thurles Information

Waste Within Tipperary Co. Council’s Motor Tax Office.

“Mr Waste lived across the street, right opposite the Slows,
And every weed that ever grew, in his front garden grows.
Bill Waste lost all his lesson books, Moll Waste on hers she scribbled,
And so between the pence and pounds away their money dribbled.
This story is a sad one; the end is as you fear.
Yes, the Waste’s are in the Workhouse now, Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear.”

In March of 2021, my car suffered from no less than three “hit and runs”, in just three weeks, while it was correctly parked close to the junction of Ikerrin Road and Kickham Street, Thurles. Same three “hit and runs” were caused by customers reversing their vehicles out from a local Supermarket in that area; the drivers failing to take the necessary due care and attention.

After the last hit and run it became necessary to have my elderly car scrapped. In doing so, I applied to rightly claim back my road tax on the now scrapped vehicle and approximately one month later, I received a cheque from Tipperary County Council, on the 28th of April, 2021.
See picture of cheque hereunder, showing repayment of €248, with date framed in red outline, note 28th April 2021.

Next, see letter received on May 7th, 2021, sent some 9 days later, stating : –

Dear Sir/Madam,
I refer to your application for refund of licencing fee in respect of the above vehicle.
Arrangements are today being made to issue a Paying Order in the sum of €248 under separate cover to you. Should you fail to receive same within 6 weeks please contact the undersigned.

Yours faithfully, etc.

To date, I hasten to add, despite the latter correspondence, Tipperary County Council have correctly failed to pay me twice for this once off transaction.

The cost of sending me the refund cheque was a 95 cents stamp, plus cost of envelope and possibly duty on the cheque. The cheque had no accompanying correspondence attached, indicating what the reason was for the payment. This resulted in a telephone call by myself seeking an explanation (cost 30 cents).
Since no one in charge of cheque distribution was available to explain my query; County Council staff agreed to phone me back. The call-back came sometime later and after a 5 minute discussion, all was fully clarified, at an total cost of about €2.00 in total.

Now for the letter dispatched on the 7/5/2021, costs: 1 x Stamp – 95 cents, 1 x Typists salary – cost unknown, 1 x line Manager/Supervisor to halt any second payment – cost unknown, 1 x Sheet of Headed Paper – cost unknown, and finally 1 x large white envelope – cost unknown.

Taxpayers wonder why their hard-earned money is diminished daily in amount and why property taxes increase by 10% annually.
Within Tipperary County Council Motor Tax Office it is obvious that they are over staffed with “the left hand not knowing what the right hand doeth”.

Who cares, the strings of the public purse in Co. Tipperary remain loose, flexible and easily accessible to public servants and their officialdom.

More on the huge waste by Tipperary County Council officials in the coming days.

Previously Discounted VAT On Non-EU Products To End

There are new tax changes on the way that will make it more expensive to buy goods online, when purchased from outside the European Union.

The Revenue Commissioners have warned that an exemption that previously discounted VAT on non-EU products under €22; will come to an end soon, possibly from July 1st, despite the purchase transaction having occurred before the aforementioned date.

Introduced by the European Commission, this new rule will be applicable in all EU member states to ensure that no products being imported from non-EU countries are given preferential VAT treatment compared with products that are bought from within the European Union.

This means that products that are being purchased online from countries outside the European Union, including Britain, will now be eligible for the same VAT rates regardless of their varied value.

Currently, if the cost of the goods you buy online, including transport, insurance and handling charges, is less than €22, then you do not have to pay VAT.

From July 1st next, people should be aware that these new tax changes could mean you will be liable for extra charges when any purchased products arrives in this country, prior to its delivery.
If you shop online in the future, you need to check carefully whether the advertised price of any goods also include all Irish tax and duty costs due; before a decision to purchase that particular item on your wish list, is contemplated.

Thurles Cathedral “Raise The Roof” Fundraiser.

Anyone who is familiar with the town of Thurles, in Co. Tipperary, is most certainly acquainted with the historic Cathedral of the Assumption, latter modelled on the Cathedral at Pisa in Northern Italy.

The building was commenced by Dr. Patrick Leahy who was then Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, and who decided to replace the existing “Big Chapel” with a Cathedral, and ever since this landmark building has played a central role in the faith life of our Thurles parish community.

The foundation stone was laid in 1865, it was roofed by 1870 and consecrated by Thomas William Croke D.D. Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, on 22nd June 1879, (142 years ago). Maintenance is constant in old buildings with repair needed on an ongoing basis. The 1970’s saw the roof re-slated, but now the time has come to replace the roofing and return it to its original Bangor slate form.

As stated, this majestic building as it stands today, has been at the very heart of our Thurles Community for some 142 years. Built in an Italianate Romanesque style, the Cathedral has always been admired for the sheer beauty of its architecture. Every inch of this structure is steeped in a rich history that reveals fascinating national and global connections.

For those of us living locally, the Cathedral holds an even more personal and profound place of importance in our hearts and minds. For many of us it is where we have celebrated some of the best of times. It is also the place that has supported us through some of the worst of times.

It is a site of worship and a venue where the community comes together daily through prayer, song, empathy and friendship. Indeed, it would be difficult to find someone from Thurles who hasn’t drawn comfort at least once from its surroundings or taken part in a celebration within its hallowed walls.

Now, in 2021, a building that has served and supported so many of us down through the years, badly needs our help with the roof of this Cathedral now in need of urgent restoration.

To this end, the Cathedral Reroofing Project Group are delighted to announce the launch of the Thurles Cathedral “Raise The Roof” Lotto, a fundraising initiative that is hoped will be of great benefit, as part of efforts to fund the much needed re-roofing of the Cathedral of the Assumption. It is hoped that the weekly option of €2 per line, will allow everybody to take part and support.

Please pass the word on and invite friends and family to support.

The last major renovation of the Cathedral took place 20 years ago. In the intervening years, repair works were completed on the Bell Tower and the statues surrounding the roof perimeter. A new roof will complete this total refurbishment in the modern era and ensure that the Cathedral will remain a centre of celebration, consolation and worship for the parish and the Archdiocese.

Readers of Thurles.Info, both at home and abroad, can VISIT HERE for further information on how they can assist in this most important restoration project.

If you can contribute 3 lines for €5, the same would be hugely appreciated.

C. E. Of Bothár Embezzled Charity Funding Over 21-Year Period.

The High Court has heard that former Chief Executive of the charity Bothár, Mr David Moloney, with an address at Clino, Newport, Co Tipperary, misappropriated significant quantities of cash donated to the charity. to fund his lifestyle, over a 21-year period

**Mr David Moloney, former C.E. of charity Bothár**.

In a sworn statement to the court Mr Moloney, confirmed that he had been generous with donated funding, which he claims he spent on items such as family holidays and on friends. He further stated that he never lodged misappropriated funds to any banks, nor had he kept any of the cash stolen.

Misappropriated monies, he claimed, were paid to others, including the late Bothár founder Mr Peter Ireton. Mr Moloney further claims that his wife, Mrs Olive Moloney, did not knowingly benefit from these funds he dishonestly extracted away from their intended purpose and furthermore his wife was never given any of the cash he wrongly misappropriated.

In his sworn statement to the court, Mr Moloney said he was deeply sorry, appalled at the damage he had caused and was deeply embarrassed.

However, the charity Bothár, represented by Mr Frank Beaty SC, refused to accept his explanations regarding what has happened to the stolen charity proceeds.

On Friday the High Court, based on Mr Moloney admissions, agreed to vary the freezing order which was preventing the former CEO from reducing his assets.

Mr Justice Senan Allen presiding stated that he was prepared to make orders allowing Mr Moloney certain variations on the original freezing orders, releasing €13,000 from a Credit Union account, thus allowing him to make payment towards his legal fees, since Mr Moloney’s current income was only from welfare payments.

He also permitted Mr Moloney to make payments out of accounts in his name, latter the proceeds of his salary, towards what the defendant claimed are essential day to day living expenses, e.g. childcare costs, mortgages repayments, house insurance and matters relating to investment property which he owns.

Mr Justice Senan Allen dismissed an application by his wife, Mrs Olive Moloney, against whom no allegations of wrong doing have been made; to vary the orders.

Mrs Moloney had sought orders seeking that €12,000 be released from a Credit Union account, in her husband’s name, to pay her legal fees. She also sought an order for the release of certain moneys from a Permanent TSB Account which was in joint ownership with her husband; to go towards her and her children’s living expenses.

While expressed sympathy on the situation that Mrs Moloney found herself in, due to her husband’s theft and since no evidence had been given to the court as to her financial contribution to those assets; Mr Justice Allen rejected her applications.

The Charity Bothár, represented by Mr Frank Beaty SC, opposed the applications, on grounds including that information and details provided to the charity Bothár, by the Moloney couple, was insufficient to allow the court make any variations to the previous court orders.

The matter is expected to return before the High Court next month.

High Court Approves Personal Insolvency Arrangement For Thurles Woman

The High Court today approved the Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) that will see a 54-year-old female, single, shop assistant continue to make mortgage repayments on her family home until she is 90 years of age.

Mr Justice Mark Sanfey approved the PIA in respect of Ms Esther Kirwan, Moycarkey, Thurles, Co Tipperary, in what is regarded as an important test case in the area of personal insolvency.

The court heard Ms Kirwan, who resides alone in a three-bedroom bungalow, has debts of €108,000. Of this debt, some €83,000 is owed to Start Mortgages in respect of the mortgage on her home, currently valued at €145,000. The remainder is owed to Allied Irish Bank for loans advanced to her former business and the Revenue Commissioners.

Under the terms of the PIA her mortgage will be restructured, but is not being reduced. She will make monthly payments of €214 for the next 420 months (35 years) to cover the interest on her mortgage, meaning she will continue to make payments until she is 90 years of age.

Should she die before reaching that age, the balance of what is owed to Start Mortgages will be paid from the proceeds of the sale of her estate.

Under the PIA the loan will be payable on the expiry of the 420-month term or on her death, whichever occurs first.

Last year the Circuit Court refused to approve Ms Kirwan’s proposed PIA because it was uncomfortable with the possibility Ms Kirwan might be compelled to sell her home to satisfy a mortgage debt.