Planning « Thurles Information

Emergency Preparedness Booklet To Be Delivered To Every Irish Household.

Emergency Preparedness Booklet to be Delivered to every Irish household, with new guidance on Community Support Centres.

Every household in Ireland is set to receive an emergency-preparedness publication in the coming weeks, as Irish Government moves to strengthen national readiness for severe weather and other disruptive events.

**Large tree blown over on the N62 close to Thurles Golf Club entrance, during Storm Éowyn**, **last January 2025**.
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

The “household resilience” booklet, prepared by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in the Department of Defence, will provide practical guidance for households on preparing for and coping with emergencies, particularly extreme weather events such as major storms and the potential loss of essential services including electricity, water, heat and communications.

The booklet’s publication follows a recommendation from the review group that examined Ireland’s response to Storm Éowyn, which struck on January 24th, 2025 and triggered nationwide red wind warnings. The Storm Éowyn review notes that 768,000 electricity customers lost power, with peak gusts reaching 184 km/h at Mace Head, and that disruption was particularly severe in remote and rural communities.

**Uprooted tree at junction with Littleton and the N62, on Mill Road, to the rear of Thurles Golf Club**, **during Storm Éowyn**, **last January 2025**.
*Picture: G. Willoughby*.

According to reporting, the review group highlighted the importance of households having a clear checklist of actions to remain safe, warm, fed and hydrated during an extended outage, with practical steps aimed at helping families to manage disruption.

Community Support Centres guidance issued to councils.

In parallel, local authorities have been issued with guidelines for establishing Community Support Centres (CSCs) to provide the public with essential services when major outages and disruption occur.

The guidelines indicate CSCs may be set up in a range of premises, including sports halls, community centres, town halls and leisure centres, and list practical requirements such as a large main room, tables and chairs, a kitchen or food-preparation area, toilets, reliable Wi-Fi, and sufficient extension cables. Accessibility requirements and provision for private space for specific needs are also referenced.

Press reports are understood to indicate CSCs are not intended to be used as overnight rest facilities, and that a key operational requirement is that locations should be generator-ready (or capable of being made ready), with local authorities covering electrician costs and supplying generators.

An Oireachtas committee opening statement in late 2025 also referenced that a Guide to Community Support Centres is now in place for use by all local authorities.

New Tipperary Community Water Officer Appointed As Funding Opens For World Wetlands Day 2026.

Community groups across Tipperary are being invited to celebrate and showcase their local wetlands, following the appointment of Mr Darragh Kelly as Tipperary’s new Community Water Officer.

Mr Kelly has spent the past number of years working in the Environment Section of Kilkenny County Council and has said he is delighted to take on this new role, supporting communities to protect and enhance local waters and wetlands.

Coming from a farming background, Mr Kelly said he has a strong interest in the outdoors, including fishing and hiking, and is particularly fond of exploring Slievenamon.

World Wetlands Day — 2 February 2026.
This year’s World Wetlands Day will be marked on Monday, 2nd February 2026, the International Day that commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention ♦ on Wetlands.

♦ The Ramsar Convention (or Convention on Wetlands) is an International Treaty for wetland conservation, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, promoting the “wise use” of wetlands for sustainable development, especially for waterfowl habitats.

The 2026 theme is: “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage”, highlighting the links between wetlands, communities, and the knowledge passed down through generations.

Funding now open for World Wetlands Day promotions.
Mr Kelly has confirmed that the Small Grants and Events Scheme 2026 portal opened for applications on Monday, 19th January at 11.00am, specifically for World Wetlands Day promotion.

Groups and organisations are encouraged to make contact if they would like to organise an event to celebrate a local wetland — from guided walks and talks to school visits, clean-ups, wildlife sessions or community information events. Revised scheme guidelines for 2026 are also available.

How to apply.
The information portal is now available HERE, so do get in touch.
Anyone wishing to organise an event or looking for support is invited to contact Mr Kelly directly @ Darragh Kelly, Community Water Officer (Tipperary), Mobile: 085 8333383.

Thurles Road Alert -Temporary Traffic Management Due On R-498.

Tipperary County Council: Road Alert – Temporary Traffic Management on the R-498 at Castlemeadows, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

From January 19th 2026 next until June 7th 2026, Temporary Traffic Management will take place on the R-498 at Castlemeadows, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and the junctions with Racecourse Road (L-4039) and Bohernanave (L-4027), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Same is to facilitate construction of the R-498 Castlemeadows Active Travel Scheme. The project will include the installation of cycle and pedestrian infrastructure to improve active travel connectivity along the R498.

The Active Travel Scheme is a government-supported initiative, primarily in Ireland, focused on developing infrastructure (like segregated cycle lanes, wider footpaths, new crossings) to encourage walking, cycling, and “wheeling” (scooters, skateboards) for purposeful journeys, aiming to boost health, cut congestion, and meet climate goals by making sustainable transport safer and more accessible. Key programs include the National Transport Authority (NTA), funding local authorities to deliver projects, and specific initiatives like the “Safe Routes to School Programme”.

Two way traffic will be maintained on the R498, with an intermittent Stop/ Go system being put in place. Commuters are warned to please expect delays.

Thurles Planning Alerts From Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2561146.
Applicant: Catherine Yeung.
Development Address: 49 Ikerrin Court , Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: construction of an extension to the side of dwelling with all associated siteworks.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 12/11/2025.
Decision Date: 08/01/2026.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561146/0.

Application Ref: 2561113
Applicant: Linda Corbet.
Development Address: Liscahill Cottage , Liscahill , Thurles Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: the construction of a new sewage treatment system including associated siteworks.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 06/11/2025.
Decision Date: 06/01/2026.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561113/0.

Thurles Planning Alerts From Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2561330.
Applicant: International Systems and Equipment Limited.
Development Address: Chs Logistics, Cabragh Business Park, Cabra, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: creating a new vehicular entrance gateway and the construction of new boundary palisade fencing to divide the site and all associated site works.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 18/12/2025.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561330/0

Application Ref: 2561322.
Applicant: John Shanahan.
Development Address: Bohernanave, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: as constructed timber out house and all associated siteworks.
Status: N/A.
Application Received: 17/12/2025.
Decision Date: N/A.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561322/0.

Application Ref: 2561097.
Applicant: Nua Healthcare Services.
Development Address: Coolkennedy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: the conversion of the existing garage to a single-occupancy communal dwelling unit, including internal alterations and the provision of living, dining, and bathroom facilities for persons with an intellectual or physical disability, together with changes.
Status: Refused.
Application Received: 31/10/2025.
Decision Date: 19/12/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561097/0.

Application Ref: 2460987.
Applicant: Dew Valley Foods.
Development Address: Dew Valley Foods, Holycross Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: A 10-year permission for the development which will consist of the phased extension of the existing food manufacturing facility comprising: (1) construction of an 11,267 m² extension to the existing food manufacturing facility, including: (a) cold storage.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 18/11/2024.
Decision Date: 15/12/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2460987/0.