Health « Thurles Information

McDonalds Restaurant In Thurles Appealed To An Bord Pleanála.

Planning permission for a “Single Storey Drive Thru McDonalds restaurant” here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, granted by Tipperary County Council, has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

This proposed single storey restaurant was intended to be erected on a site situated adjacent to the N62 at the junction of Clongour Road and Slievenamon Road, south of a proposed and as yet unfunded inner relief road close to Lidl Supermarket.

If erected same would immediately invade the privacy of a large cluster of private residential properties, already erected within meters of the surrounding area.

The appeal rightly raises concerns about the impact on the residents of the area; pedestrian safety due to undoubted traffic congestion, and the existing biodiversity, especially close to the nearby Thurles River Walk.
Tipperary County Council had granted permission on April 9th 2025, but with some 15 conditions attached.
These conditions included limiting the restaurant to operating strictly between the hours of 6:00am and 10:00pm, instead of the day and night permission, which had initially been sought by McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland Limited.

Further submissions on this appeal can be made, up until June 4th 2025, at a cost of €50.

Undeclared Walnut In Donnybrook Fair Banana Bread.

Undeclared Walnut in mispacked Donnybrook Fair Banana Bread.

Alert Summary dated Friday, May 2nd, 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A18.
Allergen: Nuts.
Product Identification: Donnybrook Fair Banana Bread, pack size: 250g Batch Code 118; use by date: 07/05/2025.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Message: Donnybrook Fair are recalling the above batch of Banana Bread, as the product contained in the pack is Carrot Cake. Walnuts are an ingredient of the Carrot Cake, but are not declared on the Banana Bread label. This may make the product unsafe for consumers who are allergic to Walnuts, and, therefore, these consumers should not eat the product.

Contract Delays Mid-West Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.

Co. Clare TD Mr Joe Cooney has requested that Minister for Transport, Mr Darragh O’Brien, TD, investigate why the procurement of a new operator for the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopter base in Shannon has resulted in the service being unable to attend medical evacuation calls on behalf of the HSE.

Deputy Cooney said Bristow Ireland, unlike the previous operator CHC Ireland, is currently not licensed to take stretchers onboard, if responding to an emergency medical support call-out, due to Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) regulatory approvals not being met.

The Clare TD, while acknowledging that the Department has confirmed that full resumption of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service is anticipated; expresses his concern that a vital component of the service previously provided by CHC Ireland, was not prioritised during the procurement process.

Deputy Cooney has also asked for clarity on why Bristow Ireland only assumed full 24-hour cover at Shannon on April 1st, almost 5 months after it commenced operating from 8:00am to 8:00pm at Shannon, suggesting that the terms of the new contract were not adhered to.

Deputy Cooney stated, “The Department of Transport faces serious questions about its procurement process and the resulting gap in emergency medical response coverage from the Shannon base,” he explained. “Given the well documented delays in ambulance cover for much of the mid-west region, and the reliance on and importance of the helicopter to provide the necessary emergency medical cover, the concerns expressed to me by constituents have revolved around the impact this issue might have had for those in need of such a critical service.”

Deputy Cooney continued, “At present, Shannon is the only one of the four bases operating under the new contract. Bristow Ireland is scheduled to commence operations at Dublin Weston on 1 July 2025, Sligo on 16 December 2025, and Waterford on 1 February 2026. The absurdity of the situation is underscored by the fact that, due to the failure to meet the 30th of June deadline for Bristow Ireland’s commencement at Dublin, Waterford and Sligo, CHC Ireland is still responding to medical evacuation calls on behalf of the HSE from these bases.”

Deputy Cooney also pointed out that Bristow Ireland, has yet to move into its own hangars at its base in Shannon and is currently sharing a hangar with an aircraft maintenance company.

“I have spoken with the Department and will be asking the Minister to review the procurement process,” he stated. “Clearly a vital piece of the service was omitted from the tendering process, an acknowledgement of these shortcomings is important in identifying the lessons that need to be learned here.”

In a written response to his Parliamentary Question, issued this week to Deputy Cooney, the Department of Transport stated, “On April 8th 2025, Bristow Ireland was notified by Irish Aviation Authority that the stretcher arrangement in use required modification to meet Helicopter Emergency Medical Support (HEMS) regulatory approvals. This decision does not apply to Helicopter Search and Rescue Operations and only applies to the Shannon base. The Coast Guard continues to provide nationwide HEMS support to the National Ambulance Service from its bases at Sligo, Waterford and Dublin. My department has been notified by Bristow Helicopters that it will shortly have a revised solution in place and anticipates full resumption of HEMS, shortly thereafter. It is important to note that this review has no impact on provision of day and night aeromedical support to the offshore island communities, from any of the four bases.”

Undeclared Wheat In Batch Of Brady Family Glazed Ham.

FSAI warn of undeclared wheat in batch of Brady Family Master Butcher Edition 7 Day Dry Aged Glazed Ham.

Alert Summary dated Friday, May 2nd 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A17
Allergen: Cereals containing gluten.
Product Identification: Brady Family Master Butcher Edition 7 Day Dry Aged Glazed Ham; pack size: 120g; approval number: IE 2313 EC.
Batch Code: 132277; use by date: 16/05/2025
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message: The above batch of Brady Family Master Butcher Edition 7 Day Dry Aged Glazed Ham was mispacked with crumbed ham. The implicated batch contains cereals containing gluten (wheat) which is not mentioned on the label. This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of cereals containing gluten (wheat) and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batch.
The affected batch is being recalled.

FSAI Warn Of Undeclared Wheat In Matt Reilly Cakes Iced Jam Bakes.

Alert Summary dated Wednesday, April 30th 2025.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A16.
Allergen: Cereals containing gluten.
Product Identification: Matt Reilly Cakes Iced Jam Bakes, pack size: 320g.
Batch Code: All batches and all best before dates that have “flour” in the ingredients listed without emphasising the allergen.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Message: Wheat (cereals containing gluten) is not declared on the ingredients list of Matt Reilly Cakes Iced Jam Bakes. This may make the product unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of cereals containing gluten (wheat), and, therefore, these consumers should not eat the product.
The affected batches are being recalled.