Finance « Thurles Information

Taoiseach Supports Lowry Request Re. Payments For Beef Farmers

Following a call from Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry to bring forward direct payments to beef farmers in light of the current crisis; An Taoiseach Mr Leo Varadkar says that the Deputy’s request ‘makes sense’.

Deputy Lowry informed the weekly Dail sitting that concerns about the beef sector are mounting and cash flow remains a serious concern for farmers during the Covid-19 crisis.

Deputy Lowry suggested to An Taoiseach that EU direct payments, which are due to be made in October, should be brought forward to July to help alleviate at least some of that financial pressure.

“Prices have slumped. Cash-flow is now a major issue for beef farmers both in Tipperary and around the country. Could your Government commit to bringing forward direct payments to beef farmers from October to July this year?” asked Deputy Lowry.

In response, An Taoiseach stated, “They are EU funds. The farmers would be getting them anyway so it might make sense to bring it forward. It’s not money they wouldn’t be getting anyway, but it might at least help with cash-flow.”

COVID-19 Hardship Fund – Age Action & Irish Red Cross

Age Action have launched a COVID-19 Hardship Fund, in conjunction with the Irish Red Cross.

This fund is in response to the immediate needs of older people in vulnerable situations right across Ireland, latter who may be experiencing additional hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic health crisis.

Both Age Action and the Irish Red Cross know that some older people in vulnerable situations who are at the highest risk of the corona virus, may need additional supports over the coming weeks, particularly as they are now required to cocoon to protect themselves and those immediately around them.

This scheme is specifically designed to provide practical relief, in alleviating any unforeseen/unexpected hardships that they may experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Age Action in conjunction with the Irish Red Cross are making a once-off grant, up to a maximum of €500, per person/household affected.

Who Can Apply: Older people in need of assistance, family members supporting an older person and carers of older people, social workers and local voluntary organisations or community groups providing direct assistance to individuals within this target group.

What Can I Apply For: Any practical needs that are adding to your hardship as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased social distancing restrictions of cocooning for the over 70’s. This can include costs of the following examples and other needs as they arise, within the scope of this fund;

Small household maintenance, repairs and safety improvements
Food and basic provisions and associated delivery costs
Upgraded or New Small Appliances (fridge, freezer, washing machine, TV, cooker, etc.)
Providing Digital Technology Equipment, for example smart phones or tablets
Contribution towards increased energy costs or telephone bills
Contribution towards additional home or personal security costs
Contribution towards additional travel costs for essential reasons (medical appointments, etc.)

How Do I Apply: The COVID-19 Hardship Fund Application Form is available HERE, or you can contact their offices to request a form by contacting them at Email: hardship2020@redcross.ie

Phone: Irish Red Cross at 01 6424600 or Age Action at 01 475 6989

Please ensure that you clearly outline the need for which you are applying; how the grant will alleviate hardship and what it will be used for and details of the costs, (Remember, up to a maximum of €500).

What Happens Next: Age Action and the Irish Red Cross will assess applications and oversee distribution of the funds on a weekly basis and successful applicants will be notified as soon as possible.

A member of staff from Age Action or the Irish Red Cross will contact you if they need further information.

They will ask that you verify that the funds are being used for the purpose intended, by supplying receipts and photographic evidence where possible.

Note: Closing date for applications is 31st August 2020.

If your company is interested in becoming a Corporate Partner or if you would like to organise a fundraising event to raise funds for the Covid-19 Hardship Fund, please contact Caroline O’Connell, Head of Fundraising at headoffundraising@ageaction.ie

Phishers & Smishers Take Full Advantage Of Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis

Phishing & Smishing, in the case of banking, is the fraudulent practice of sending, respectively, emails and text messages, purporting to come from reputable financial institutions, in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as: User ID; Passwords; Bank Account Details and Credit Card Numbers.

You can view Bank of Irelands ‘365 online’ by visiting HERE – Note: the bank clearly warns you regarding same ‘Phishing’ & ‘Smishing’ scams when entering personal details on this site.

Text messages (Smishing) are currently being sent out by contemptible criminals, using the telephone number 089 1110111 here in the Tipperary area, and possibly elsewhere, over the past week. Same contemptible individuals are clearly seeking to take advantage of those wishing to remain in isolation during this virus pandemic.

The text messages of which we are aware that have been received, read:-
(1) [BOI]: Your 365 online has been blocked. All services have been withdrawn. Go to www.boionlinenewssecure.com to reactivate now.
OR
(2) [BOI]: We are unable to process your last payment. All services have been withdrawn. Go to www.boionlinenewssecure.com to reactivate now.

Let us remind you again: Banks; Credit Card Companies and Government Departments will NEVER contact people, asking them to enter personal information on line.

Please do take the time to warn elderly parents; friends and those less IT literate.

Phoenix Anticipated From Thurles Factory Rubble

“The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
Her ashes new create another heir
As great in admiration as herself..” – William Shakespeare

The Erin Foods factory had been in operation in Thurles, Co Tipperary, for some 46 years, until it closed in June of 2008, with the immediate loss of 95 jobs.
This closure was then just one of over 20 such industry finalities that saw closure in Thurles over the previous 25 years, thus forcing hundreds of Thurles residents, both young and middle aged, to migrate to larger Irish costal cities or to emigrate abroad altogether, in their efforts to find employment.

**Formerly Erin Foods, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**.
*March 7th 2020 – Picture G. Willoughby*

This now being demolished Thurles plant had been involved in the production of Erin Soups and Sauces, Campbell Soups and some MacDonald Sauces.

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The then owners of Erin Foods; Premier Foods, while aware of the impact this closure would have on their employees and their families; following a group-wide company review; recommended the consolidation of its production of key brands, which inevitably resulted in the signing of a death warrant for the Thurles plant.

**Standing, like something reminisent of a building in a war-torn middle eastern country; the last vestige of the Erin Foods, factory in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.**
*March 21st 2020 – Picture G. Willoughby.*

Old Erin Foods Site Set For €24 Million Redevelopment
But despite a 12-year wait, now a new building is due to rise from the current rubble.

Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG, latter a German global discount Supermarket Chain, based in Neckarsulm, Germany; through their architects Clarman, have acquired full Planning Permission, in a joint partnership between Wesley Quirke of Baycross Developments Ltd., and Castletown Capital Ltd.

This project will comprise of 3 phases:
Phase 1 :- The demolition of the existing buildings and full site clearance, currently underway.
Phase 2 :- The construction of a new site entrance, again already cleared.
The site will be accessed by means of a proposed new roadway which will form the initial phase of the long awaited inner relief road for Thurles, linking Slievenamon Road to the Mill Road.
Phase 3 :- The construction of the new state of the art retail store and 60,000 sq. ft. business centre, thus enabling the entire site to be redeveloped.

This project is expected to take a further 2 years to fully complete, and will revitalise a prime site, latter which has been dormant for almost 12 years, while generating significant job opportunities and the revitalisation, hopefully, of the local Thurles economy.

Employees Forced To E-Work From Home Can Claim Tax Relief

The many employees who have recently been requested by employers to work from their homes, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, can avail of Revenue’s e-worker tax relief.

Many employees currently, latter who most likely have never directly worked from homes previously, will possibly be totally unaware of this relief that is now correctly available to them.

In excess of 100,000 employees daily already work from home, even before the Covid-19 outbreak. The Revenue commissioners have previously made provisions for these employees to be reimbursed for their work-related expenses, which would include heating, electricity and required broadband costs / expenses. People working from home over the coming weeks, and possibly months into the future, will automatically incur these additional costs.

From a tax perspective, an employer can also pay €3.20 a day to their employees to cover these additional costs. However, since employers have no legal obligation to pay, these expenses still remain eligible for tax relief, which constitutes the right by home-workers to claim tax back.

Note: Any such claims made, must be supported with evidence in the form of receipts and possibly a letter from your employer, indicating that employees worked from home, and that they the employer, have not reimbursed the employee in relation to these expenses.