Health « Thurles Information

Rodent Droppings Lead To Closure of McDonald’s Storage Unit.

Rodent Droppings Lead to Closure of McDonald’s Storage Unit in Drogheda.

A storage unit at McDonald’s in Drogheda, Co Louth, has been served with a closure order by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) after rodent droppings were discovered on shelving and food equipment.

An FSAI inspector’s report found that cleaning agents and disinfectants intended for use on food equipment were also stored in the same area, leaving them vulnerable to contamination.
The unit was also described as inadequately pest-proofed.

The closure order applied specifically to the storage unit at the side of the McDonald’s premises on The Waterfront, Rathmullen Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth.

Separately, here in Thurles, Co Tipperary, An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld planning permission for a new McDonald’s Burger outlet. The restaurant is expected to be erected on the south side of Lidl Supermarket, along the Clongour Road leading out of Thurles town.

In all the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) served eight Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order on food businesses during the month of August for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

Undeclared Sulphites In Royal Orient Palm Sugar Batch.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland Warns of undeclared sulphites in a batch of Royal Orient Palm Sugar.

Alert Summary dated Friday, September 5th 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A31.
Allergens: Sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
Product Identification: Royal Orient Palm Sugar; pack sizes: 500g and 454g.
Batch Code: Best before date: 21/03/2027.
Country Of Origin: Thailand.

Message: The above batch of Royal Orient Palm Sugar contains sulphites which is not mentioned on the label.
This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of sulphites and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batch.
The affected batch has now been recalled.

Irish Government Announce €1.75 Million Fund For IPAS Family Support.

The Irish Government announces a €1.75 million fund to support children, young people, and families in International Protection Accommodation (IPAS).

Fund will be delivered locally through Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC).
CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people with projects designed to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in IPAS.
This 2025 Funding Framework was designed in collaboration with the CYPSC National Office at Tusla – Child and Family Agency.
Tipperary CYPSC to run a project promoting community integration by linking children staying in IPAS accommodation with local sports clubs.

CYPSC are a key structure identified by Government to plan and co-ordinate services for children and young people in every county in Ireland. Policy and strategic direction for the CYPSC initiative is provided by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. There are 27 CYPSC nationwide and operational leadership is provided by TUSLA – Child and Family Agency through CYPSC National Office.

CYPSC bring together the main statutory, community and voluntary providers of services to children and young people in each county. CYPSC work to enhance interagency co-operation at both a local and national level with the goal of improving outcomes for children and young people (including those aged 0-24 years).

The CYPSC international protection fund was first established in 2023. The fund has successfully delivered a broad range of initiatives supporting children and young people seeking international protection in Ireland.

The framework for the 2025 fund was designed in collaboration with CYPSC National Office within Tusla – Child and Family Agency. The framework sets out the objectives, scope, and operational details of the fund. Local CYPSC were invited to propose a range of initiatives and projects falling under a range of objectives.

The objectives, which are aligned with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, include:

Community Integration.
Health and wellbeing.
Supports for Parents.
Emergency Accommodation.
Pathways to Independence.

Some examples of the projects selected to receive funding this year and that will be delivered by CYPSC, in collaboration with local partners, include:

Tipperary CYPSC: Same will run a project promoting community integration by linking children staying in IPAS accommodation with local sports clubs.
Kildare CYPSC: Same will provide an educational project for 18-24 year olds looking at career options, horticultural training and experience, language supports, CV and interview preparation supports, job readiness skills, and personal development.
Cork CYPSC: Same will run a project that aims to enable parents in emergency IPAS accommodation to teach their children culturally aligned cooking skills and good eating habits.
Donegal CYPSC: Same will provide a surf camp that will serve as a platform for intercultural exchange by encouraging teamwork, mutual understanding, and friendships for children and young people from diverse backgrounds.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown CYPSC: Same will provide access to a Sensory Attachment Intervention programme useful for children and adults who have suffered trauma.

Garden of Eden Baby Spinach & Mixed Baby Leaf Products Recalled Due To Listeria.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland recall various batches of Garden of Eden Baby Spinach & Mixed Baby Leaf products, due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

Alert Summary dated Friday September 5th, 2025

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2025.48.
Product Identification: Please see table below.
Batch Code: Please see table below.
Country Of Origin: Ireland and United Kingdom.

Message: The below batches of Spinach and Mixed Baby Leaf are being recalled by Garden of Eden due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Product name.	Pack sizes.	Batch codes.
Baby Spinach.	100g, 200g & 500g.	F2776, F2786.
Mixed Baby Leaf.	100g & 500g.	0805B, 0805P, 0805R, 0805Y.

Nature Of Danger: Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers and Retailers:
Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
Caterers: Same should not use the implicated batches.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

EPA Confirms Tipperary Co. Council Responsible For Thurles River Pollution.

In an email received by Thurles.Info this morning from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it has now been confirmed that Tipperary Co. Council are directly responsible for failure to protect the River Suir from pollution.

The email reply in its entirety reads: “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges receipt on 30/08/2025 of your correspondence with regard to the alleged pollution of the river Suir and perceived lack of action by Tipperary County Council and other authorities as listed by you. Our Ref. COM021813.

The remit of the EPA allows us to support complainants by ensuring local authorities give due consideration to every complaint received from all members of the public and uphold their obligations under environmental protection legislation. We do not have the same enforcement remit with regard to the other authorities listed by you, but do report complaints and concerns to all with the aim of highlighting issues of environmental impact and working together to resolve issues, where possible.

Tipperary County Council has responsibility for dealing with the issues described in your correspondence.

The EPA would like to forward a copy of your correspondence to Tipperary County Council for their attention, action, and direct response to you.

In order to allow them to respond to you, we will need to share your contact information with them. Please confirm in a reply to this email if you consent (for data protection GDPR compliance purposes) to the EPA sharing your contact information with the Council.

Please note, a referral from the EPA obliges the local authority to log the complaint, open a case file, investigate the matter and report back to the complainant (you in this instance) as to any assessment and/or action planned or taken.

I trust you will find this of assistance“
Signed: Programme Officer – Complaints Unit, Office of Environmental Enforcement, Wexford.

My reply To the EPA sent today is as follows:
“Thank you for your quick reply to my communication received today.
I confirm that I have no objection to the EPA sharing my contact information with Tipperary Co. Council. However, I fear by doing so you will receive little response.

I have contacted Tipperary Co. Council on numerous occasions over the past 5 years and all I ever receive is automated responses from secretaries.

My last contact with Tipperary Co. Council was just one week ago. A standard reply came back stating that my complaint would be forwarded to the relevant environmental department. I have heard nothing since.

This morning a survey of the area undertaken by me has revealed little or nothing has changed in the past 7 days. Ladies’ clothing previously dumped on the river bank, has received further contributions. (See picture shown above).
To their shame, no effort has been made by local Thurles Municipal District Council officials or by elected councillors either.
The smell of sewage is about the same. Two more Supermarket Trolleys and one plastic chair have been added to the now stagnant waterway. (See picture shown hereunder).

Please send me a copy of all/any communications forwarded to Tipperary Co. Council, regarding the present state of the River Suir in Thurles, including that using my contact information.

Please find (shown here above) pictures attached; which further highlight this pressing issue.

I remain
Yours sincerely, etc.

So where do we go from here?
It would appear that we, as residence of Thurles, have lost total control of our area and a commitment by our local authority to involve themselves in a public consultation process, no longer exists.
While elected councillors are aware of Tipperary Co. Council’s official’s plans, same are not being shared with their electorate.
Some 300 metres away from this current stench ridden River Suir; a building is being upgraded and due to come on line in December 2025; same reconstructed at a cost of €3.4 million euro of taxpayers money, courtesy of the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund (RRDF).
Through this taxpayer-funded venture, Tipperary County Council will collect about €21,000 in yearly rental income.
Instead of focusing on its duty to represent the local community, Tipperary Co. Council has positioned itself as a competitor to already existing, tax and ratepaying businesses; yet enjoys an unfair advantage by sidestepping the significant setup expenses that other ordinary businesses are obliged to pay.
We await Tipperary County Councils reply.