Health « Thurles Information

Cocaine Use On Increase In Co. Tipperary.

Co. Tipperary came fourth, behind counties Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, when it came to calculating the number of people obtaining treatment for cocaine addiction last year (2022).

Some 144 people; an increase of 30 over the previous year’s figures (2021), were identified, at yesterday’s meeting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee.

The figures quoted, at the meeting, were based on observations by an Garda Síochána; latter operating on the ground locally.

An Garda Síochána report that cocaine, in Ireland, is now foolishly accepted as being often “okay” and “great craic”, despite the drug’s significant impact on Irish family life, employment, escalating community crime, and personal relationships; with serious abusers of the drug often refusing to seek professional assistance, resulting in serious addiction, homelessness and often death.

Child Airlifted To Dublin Hospital.

A child has been airlifted to hospital in Dublin, following a fall at Main Street, Carricik-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary on Monday afternoon last.

We understand the child, a male aged 3 years, fell from a flat roofed building and was removed to CHI (Children’s Health Ireland), Temple Street, Dublin, to be treated for his injuries.

Gardaí assisted emergency services at the scene of the incident, at approximately 3:15pm on Monday last, June 19th, 2023, before the child was transferred by air ambulance to CHI at Temple Street Dublin.

We understand the child remains in a stable condition.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service Seek Donations At Thurles Clinics.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (ITBS) has issued a strong appeal to people to give blood at four clinics here in Thurles Co. Tipperary in the coming week.

The service had already issued an alert on May 29th last, following blood levels in hospitals having run critically low, over the past number of weeks.

IBTS need to collect an extra 400 donations per week during the month of June and is therefore appealing to local blood donors to make a special effort to attend at upcoming clinic dates.

Note: New blood donors are welcome.

Blood can be given at The Dome, Semple Stadium, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 26th – June 29th from 4:50pm to 8:10pm.

For Appointments: Please call Tel No -1800 222 111.

FSAI Serve Notice On Iceland Ireland.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirms it has served a notice on Thursday 16th June 2023 on Metron Stores Limited, trading as Iceland Ireland for the immediate withdrawal from its retail stores of all imported frozen food of animal origin which has been imported into Ireland since 3rd March 2023.

In addition, the FSAI is directing the company to recall the implicated product from consumers. As a precaution, the FSAI is advising consumers not to eat any imported frozen food of animal origin bought from Iceland Ireland stores since 3rd March 2023. Foods of animal origin are any products that contain ingredients that come from an animal, such as chicken, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, etc. This enforcement action is due to a number of identified breaches of food legislation and an ongoing investigation.

The reasons for serving this notice include:

Inadequate evidence of traceability of imported frozen food of animal origin in Iceland Ireland. There have been a number of incidents of non-compliance with import control legislation in relation to frozen foods of animal origin. Some frozen food of animal origin has been imported into Ireland without pre-notification and completion of entry declarations and health certificates since 3rd March 2023.

Discussions with the company have taken place and the investigation involves the FSAI; the Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.

As part of the investigation, the FSAI has informed the European Commission, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) UK, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland and are sharing relevant information to support the investigation.

The FSAI Advice Line can be contacted at info@fsai.ie or through our social media channels @FSAIinfo. Further details can be found on the FSAI website.

EPA Finds No Significant Improvement In Irish Water Quality Of Rivers And Lakes.

The Munster Suir catchment area has the highest decline in quality water status.
Overall, there is no significant improvement in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022; improvements are happening in some areas but these are offset by declines elsewhere.
When excess nutrients – nitrogen and phosphorus – enter our water courses, they cause an overgrowth of plants and algae. This in turn clogs up our water courses, uses up oxygen and harms fish and other aquatic life.
Nitrogen levels, mainly from agriculture from fertilisers and manures, have increased in rivers and groundwater in 2022;
Phosphorus levels, mainly from agricultural runoff and wastewater discharges, are generally stable but are still too high in many rivers and lakes.
Action needs to be taken by the agriculture sector and Uisce Éireann to reduce the losses of both nutrients to the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the report Water Quality in 2022 – An Indicators Report which provides an update on the water quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal, and groundwaters for 2022. The report states that one of the most significant stressors on water quality and ecosystem health is high nutrient levels, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients can enter our waters as a result of human activities such as agriculture, waste water and forestry. The EPA’s assessment shows no significant improvement nationally in the biological quality of rivers and lakes in 2022, which is largely attributable to excess nitrogen and phosphorous.

Overall, nitrogen levels in rivers and groundwater increased between 2021 and 2022. Nitrogen is too high in 40 percent of river sites and in 20 percent of estuarine and coastal water bodies. In addition, phosphorus levels are too high in 28 percent of rivers and 36 percent of lakes.

Commenting on the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, said: “Clean water is essential for our health and wellbeing, our economy and for wildlife. The failure to improve water quality in 2022 and over the longer term is extremely disappointing. We will not meet our water quality objectives until nutrient levels are reduced in those areas where they are too high. Addressing this must be a priority for the agriculture sector and Uisce Éireann to reduce the losses of nutrients to water. While we can see improvements happening in some areas, these are offset by declines elsewhere, so overall there is no discernible change in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022. Improvements need to be far greater and more widespread to translate into an improving national picture”.

The ecology of our estuaries and coastal waters are particularly sensitive to nitrogen. The worst impacted estuaries for nitrogen exceedances are Glashaboy Estuary (Cork), Wexford Harbour, Castletown Estuary (Louth), Upper Barrow Estuary (Kilkenny) and Corock Estuary (Wexford).

Changes in nutrient levels and biological quality are key indicators of progress in achieving our water quality objectives. When these excess nutrients enter our water courses, they cause an overgrowth of plants and algae. This in turn clogs up our water courses, uses up oxygen and harms other more sensitive aquatic life.

Mary Gurrie, EPA Programme Manager, added: “We need to see full implementation of the Nitrates Action Programme through compliance promotion and targeted agricultural inspections. Uisce Éireann must prioritise investment in areas where wastewater is impacting on water quality, and the forthcoming River Basin Management Plan must provide a comprehensive plan to address all the pressures on our water environment to protect and improve this precious resource.”

Water Quality in 2022 – An Indicators Report is now available on the EPA website