Uisce Éireann is to submit a Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application, alongside a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) application, to An Coimisiún Pleanála for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region, described as the largest-ever water project in Irish history.
What does the project propose? Uisce Éireann plans to abstract water from Parteen Basin (Lower River Shannon), treat it near Birdhill, Co Tipperary, and pipe treated water about 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a new termination reservoir at Peamount, Co Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area network.
How much water would be taken? Uisce Éireann says the scheme would abstract a maximum of 2% of the average/long-term average flow at Parteen Basin.
Why is it being pursued? Uisce Éireann says the Eastern & Midlands region is over-reliant on a single source (the River Liffey system) and that population/economic growth and climate pressures will increase demand; it says a new source is needed for resilience.
What is the cost and timeline? Subject to planning, Uisce Éireann proposes construction starting in 2028, completing within five years, with an estimated budget of €4.58bn–€5.96bn and more than 1,000 direct jobs at peak construction.
How many landowners are affected? Reporting on the scheme states the underground pipeline would cross lands belonging to about 500 owners.
What are objectors saying? 1) Environmental impact on the Shannon / Natura 2000 protections. A key objection is potential ecological impact on the Shannon system. Parteen Basin is within the Lower River Shannon SAC (site code 002165), and critics argue abstraction/infrastructure must be proven not to adversely affect protected habitats/species.
2)“Fix the leaks first”. Opponents argue Dublin’s deficit should be tackled primarily through leakage reduction and network upgrades. Uisce Éireann’s own figures state about 37% of treated water is lost through leaks nationally. (Analysis has cited 37% nationally and 33% in the Greater Dublin Area lost to leaks.)
3)Demand and climate assumptions. Some stakeholders have challenged the robustness and horizon of demand forecasts,raising issues such as planning beyond 2050, climate impacts and high-demand users (including data centres and large energy users), particularly during drought.
4) Cost escalation and value-for-money. Objectors highlight the multibillion price tag (often described as “about €6bn”) and warn of further escalation; reporting has referenced a worst-case risk scenario exceeding €10bn in official correspondence.
5) Land access, CPO concerns, disruption and compensation/tax. Landowner objections include disruption during construction, long-term land constraints, and concerns about compensation treatment (including tax/VAT implications).
What is Uisce Éireann’s response ?
It says the abstraction would be capped at 2% of Parteen Basin flows and that the application includes an EIAR and Natura Impact Statement. It says leakage reduction is part of the solution, but that a new source is still required for resilience. It points to landowner liaison and a negotiated voluntary wayleave/land package agreed with farming bodies.
What happens next ? Uisce Éireann says planning notices run from 12 December 2025 and planning documents will be available from 19 December 2025 once lodged. The project page states submissions/observations to An Coimisiún Pleanála may be made from January 6th 2026 until February 25th 2026 at 5.30pm.
Tipperary parking shake-up to go to consultation in early 2026, with Thurles calls growing to scrap charges.
A countywide overhaul of parking charges and permits across Tipperary’s nine pay-parking towns is due to go to public consultation in early 2026, after councillors examined proposals at a series of workshops aimed at “harmonising” how parking is managed from town to town.
The characterisation of Thurles town centre as “just a drive through area” reflects ongoing public concerns about traffic congestion and the impact of traffic management schemes on the town’s future vitality.
The nine towns currently within the Council’s eParking/pay-parking system are Thurles, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea, Templemore and Tipperary Town.
What’s in the proposals (as currently outlined)? Three-tier classification: the nine towns would be grouped into Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3, with a different pricing structure depending on classification. First 20 minutes free: the plan would introduce a formal 20-minute free-parking period in each town when implemented (reported for September 2026). Charging hours: parking charges are proposed to apply 8.30am–6.30pm, every day except Sunday. Permit overhaul: reforms are proposed for the full range of permits, including categories such as residential and visitor permits, alongside other permit types. Off-street incentives and local “return” of revenue: the outline includes lower charges for off-street parking and a new approach to how parking income is used locally (with towns retaining a share of additional revenue above an agreed baseline). Submissions urged: the public are being encouraged to make submissions, seeking calls for one hour duration in free parking, rather than 20 minutes.
Why Thurles is central to the debate.
Despite Tipperary County Council initiatives framed as boosting Thurles town-centre trade and footfall (including measures such as time-limited free parking promotions), local retailers have long argued the centre cannot compete with shopping centres offering easier/free parking. They say that, following recent town-centre parking changes and the loss/uncertainty around key capacity, shopper activity has increasingly gravitated towards Thurles Shopping Centre and LIDL on Slievenamon Road, to the detriment of town-centre shops, because sufficient convenient parking has not been maintained with recent upgrading.
In Thurles, the conversation is being shaped by a series of recent town-centre parking and traffic changes, including:
A push to increase short-stay turnover in central areas, following concerns that all-day parking by workers was squeezing out shoppers.
Ongoing controversy around plans linked to Liberty Square, where parking spaces have been a recurring flashpoint.
The introduction of updated local rules under Thurles Municipal District Parking Bye-Laws 2025, adopted by elected members and brought into effect in April 2025.
Pressure on supply from the loss/closure of key town-centre parking, including the Munster Hotel car park closure, Market Area and The Source closures, alongside other long-term reductions referenced locally (reported as over 100 spaces).
“Abolish charges altogether” – the emerging Thurles position. Against that backdrop, the argument being made by some in Thurles is straightforward: because the town centre has already absorbed significant disruption and a tightening of parking availability, parking charges should be abolished altogether rather than “rebalanced.” There is precedent for this stance in the Liberty Square context, with calls previously made for parking charges to be suspended in Thurles during major works to help protect footfall.
What happens next ? The Council is expected to publish consultation details in early 2026, allowing residents, traders and commuters to lodge submissions on:
the tiering model,
the free-parking period,
charging hours and enforcement,
permit eligibility and pricing,
how parking income should be reinvested locally.
Tipperary County Council already uses its online portal to run formal public consultations on matters of upgrading and parking bye-law proposals, however, the petty exercise of same authority, by minor officials is perceived only as a “tick box” exercise, rather than a meaningful tool for future public consultative policy development.
Application Ref: 2561248. Applicant: Joseph Hawe Development Address: The Heath , Thurles , Co. Tipperary Development Description: an as constructed domestic garage and all associated site works Status: N/a Application Received: 03/12/2025 Decision Date: N/A Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561248/0
Application Ref: 2560884. Applicant: Nicole O’Brien & Liam Moore Development Address: Beakstown , Thurles , Co. Tipperary. Development Description: a storey & a half dwelling with entrance, garage, septic tank and percolation area with all associated siteworks and ancillary works Status: Conditional Application Received: 08/09/2025 Decision Date: 04/12/2025 Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560884/0
Application Ref: 2561220. Applicant: Michael Campbell. Development Address: Stradavoher, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: construction of a 1.5-storey private dwelling, utilising the existing permitted vehicular entrance onto Stradavoher Road (Reg. Ref. 19601054), connection to the public water supply and public foul sewer, provision of SuDS-compliant surface water drainage. Status: N/A. Application Received: 27/11/2025. Decision Date: N/A. Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561220/0
Application Ref: 2561217. Applicant: Rory O’Regan. Development Address: Knockroe, Thurles , Co. Tipperary. Development Description: a new dwelling house, alteration of entrance from previously granted planning reference no. 2560354 to include re-routing of truck entrance and to form a new domestic entrance, new wastewater treatment system and all associated site works. Status: N/A. Application Received: 26/11/2025. Decision Date: N/A. Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561217/0.
Application Ref: 2561219. Applicant: Damien Ryan. Development Address: At The Corner Of Westgate And Croke Street , Thurles , Co. Tipperary. Development Description: for change of use of existing ground floor from retail/commercial use to residential use, with changes to the front and side elevations of the existing building with all associated siteworks. Status: N/A. Application Received: 26/11/2025. Decision Date: N/A. Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561219/0.
Application Ref: 25209. Applicant: Coolross Homes Ltd. Development Address: Thurles Townparks Bohernamona And Bowling Green , Thurles , Co. Tipperary Development Description: demolition of existing wall at Bohernamona Road, Thurles and creation of new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from Bohernamona Road, creation of new crossing point via raised table from the application site to the existing playpark at Loughtagalla Park, Status: Refused Application Received: 06/10/2025 Decision Date: 26/11/2025 Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/25209/0
Application Ref: 25208. Applicant: Coolross Homes Ltd. Development Address: Lands To The North Of Mitchel Street, Thurles Townparks And Bohernamona , Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: demolition of a section of wall (in part) at Mitchel Street and partial demolition of 3 no. outbuildings within the site to create a point of vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access from Mitchel Street north into the site; development of 75 no. residential. Status: Refused. Application Received: 06/10/2025. Decision Date: 26/11/2025. Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/25208/0.
Application Ref: 2560835. Applicant: Michael Quinlan. Development Address: 10 Butler Avenue, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Development Description: a new extension to the rear of the existing dwelling and RETENTION PERMISSION for a new vehicular entrance to the front of the property and all associated site works Status: Conditional. Application Received: 26/08/2025. Decision Date: 24/11/2025. Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560835/0.
Application Ref: 2560563. Applicant: Patrick Ryan Development Address: 21 Butler Avenue , Thurles , Co. Tipperary Development Description: the construction of a new first floor extension to the rear of an existing dwelling, with changes to existing floor plan and elevations and all associated siteworks Status: Conditional. Application Received: 16/06/2025 Decision Date: 28/11/2025. Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2560563/0.
Application Ref: 2561181. Applicant:MrJohn Ryan (Ned). Development Address: Wolfe Tone Place , Thurles , Co. Tipperary. Development Description: the construction of an extension (south of existing structure) and undertaking of alterations to a property adjoining and within the curtilage of a protected structure (TRPS2503)(Eircode E41 PX09). Permission for completion of works relating to this extension. Status: N/A Application Received: 19/11/2025 Decision Date: N/A Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561181/0
Application Ref: 2561182. Applicant:MrJames Burke. Development Address: Rossestown , Thurles , Co. Tipperary. Development Description: a four bedroom bungalow, new entrance, garage, wastewater treatment system and all associated site works. Status: N/A. Application Received: 19/11/2025. Decision Date: N/A. Further Details:http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561182/0
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