Planning « Thurles Information

Industry & Power Greenhouse Gas Emissions down by 5.5 %.

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions from power generation and industry down by 5.5 per cent in 2025.

In 2025, greenhouse gas emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) decreased by 5.5 per cent.
Emissions decreased by 8.9 per cent from the electricity generation sector driven by cessation of coal use at Moneypoint, an increase in renewables and increased importation of electricity.
Manufacturing industry emissions decreased by 2.5 per cent driven by a variety of factors including the use of alternative lower carbon fuels and a decrease in clinker production in the cement sector.
In contrast, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, reported to Ireland, increased by just under 2 per cent compared to 2024, which reflects continued growth in this sector.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In 2025, emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies decreased by 5.5 per cent (over 620,000 tonnes) to 10.67 million tonnes of CO2. This compares with a decrease of approximately 6.9 per cent across Europe, according to data released by the EU Commission.

The decrease in emissions from Ireland’s power generation and industry sectors in 2025 was driven by a combination of factors.

Power generation: The use of coal at ESB Moneypoint ceased in June 2025 which has led to a 49 per cent reduction in emissions from this station. On a national basis, there was a slight increase in renewable electricity (up by 1 per cent as a percentage of demand) and an increase in net imports of electricity from 14 per cent to 17 per cent as a percentage of demand.

Cement industries: There was a 3.6% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from cement industries due to both a drop in production of cement clinker (a key component of cement) and an increase in alternative fuel use as the demand for less carbon intensive construction products has increased.

Commenting today, Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA Director General, said: “The reduction in emissions from power generation and industrial activities covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) indicates progress in Ireland’s shift toward cleaner energy and more sustainable manufacturing. Since the establishment of EU ETS in 2005, there has been a decrease in emissions of over 52 per cent for the relevant sectors in Ireland which highlights the importance of this policy tool in driving decarbonisation.”

Aviation: Emissions from flights within the European Economic Area reported to Ireland increased by almost 2 per cent compared to 2024, to over 13.4 million tonnes. This is now well above the pre-pandemic levels of 12.8 million tonnes and reflects the ongoing growth of traffic in this sector. The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) has increased since 2024 but there is scope for further uptake of these fuels.

Dr Maria Martin, EPA Senior Manager, said: “There is a continued need for all sectors included in the EU ETS to play their part. While power generation and industry both recorded reductions in emissions, the dairy processing industries increased their emissions in 2025 suggesting that more work needs to be done to decouple growth in this sector from carbon emissions.”

Further details about Emissions Trading are available on the EU Commission’s website and on the EPA website.
Further information about Ireland’s overall greenhouse gas emissions and useful infographics and detailed greenhouse gas inventory are also available on the EPA website.

Thurles Planning Alert From Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2660088.
Applicant: Orsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited.
Development Address: In The Townland Of Brittas, near Thurles , Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: The further continued use of an existing temporary 80m high meteorological mast and associated instruments in the townland of Brittas, near Thurles Co. Tipperary. The mast was erected on site as exempted development pursuant to Class 20(A), Part 1, Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) which was extended for two years under Planning Ref 2460421. Permission is sought to extend this permission for a further period of two years
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 06/02/2026.
Decision Date: 26/03/2026.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2660088/0

New Chapter For One19 Coffee – Thurles Awaits Opening Tomorrow Morning, April 8th 2026.

On any given weekday in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, the now-familiar sight of a queue outside One19 Coffee House tells its own story; a story of quality, community, and something special quietly brewing.

What began as a modest takeaway coffee spot has grown into a thriving café culture hub, serving everything from expertly crafted coffee to fresh sandwiches, cakes, and vibrant açaí bowls. Over time, it has evolved into a destination, drawing loyal customers, not just from the Templemore area, but from Thurles and across the county.

And Now… Thurles Welcomes One19.
Tomorrow, April 8th, 2026, marks the beginning of a new chapter.

In the beautifully restored Market 54 area, just southeast of The Source Arts Centre building on Cathedral Street, One19 Coffee opens its doors once more, this time bringing its unmistakable charm to the heart of Thurles. There’s something quietly romantic about it; a café that once drew people away from Thurles, now finally arrives to meet them where they are living.

A Place for Mornings, Middays & Moments:
From the very first light of day tomorrow, One19 Thurles will hum with life.
Open 7 days a week.
Weekdays: 7:30am – 5:00pm.
Weekends: Slightly reduced, slower-paced hours.

Just like its Templemore home, it will offer:
Freshly prepared breakfasts and lunches.
Artisan coffee brewed with care.
Sweet treats, light bites and wholesome options.
A space to pause, meet, and simply be.

More Than A Coffee Shop.
This isn’t just another opening, it feels like a natural continuation of something already loved.
A café built on: Community spirit – Consistency and quality and the simple pleasure of a really good cup of coffee.

Now set against the old historic great famine stonework and the renewed energy of Thurles’ Market Quarter, “One19” is poised to become not just a stop, but a regular supported destination.

Final Thought.
Where once people travelled for One19; now One19 comes to them.
And from tomorrow morning, as the doors open and the first coffees are poured, Thurles will gain something more than a café, it will gain a new gathering place.

New Council Report Finds Climate Change Causing Significant Damage In Ireland.

The Climate Change Advisory Council’s latest report finds that climate change, driven by greenhouse gases, is having measurable impacts in Ireland. There is clear evidence in 2025 of rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, with growing risks for communities, infrastructure, essential services and the economy.

The Council today launched Our Changing Climate 2025, the first publication in its Annual Review 2026 series, highlighting accelerating climate trends and the urgent need for Ireland to simultaneously reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and strengthen its preparedness for climate impacts. Our continued reliance on economically volatile imported fossil fuels leaves households, communities and businesses acutely vulnerable to shocks such as the current conflict in the Middle East. The Council has repeatedly stressed that there are viable alternatives which must be urgently pursued that would increase our economic resilience, reduce our dependency on the actions of others and simultaneously reduce our contributions to global warming.

The Council has identified gaps in how the economic, social and environmental consequences of extreme weather events are monitored, noting that robust data and evidence are essential to inform effective policy, planning and investment.

New attribution capabilities highlight the direct link between continuing greenhouse gas emissions and the weather we are experiencing today. Rainfall during Storm Claudia in November 2025 for example was made twice as likely and nearly 12% more intense than it would have been in a pre-industrial climate. This points directly to the impact of climate change on our weather patterns. Extreme conditions continued into 2026, with Storm Chandra bringing prolonged rainfall and severe flooding, as saturated ground conditions significantly increased flood risk.

The report also identifies impacts across natural systems, including shifts in the seasonal lifecycles of insects and wildlife, signalling broader ecological change. This can result in an increased risk of outbreaks of diseases such as ash dieback and avian influenza, invasive species such as the Asian Hornet, harmful algal blooms, and an increased risk of wildfires.

Key climate observations from the report include:

2025 was the second warmest year on record, with average summer temperatures 1.94°C above the 1961–1990 long-term average
Seven of the ten warmest years have occurred since 2005.
The meteorological autumn was the fourth wettest on record, and six of the ten wettest autumns have occurred since 2001, pointing to a clear trend of increasing rainfall.
Ireland experienced record-breaking warm conditions in spring and summer, with Uisce Éireann declaring 49 water supplies in 15 counties to be in drought status.
Ireland recorded its highest ever wind gust of 184km/h in January 2025
A record high minimum temperature for any calendar month of 19.0°C was also recorded in June.
Storm Éowyn, an event with record-breaking wind speeds, was the most expensive storm-related insurance event in Irish history with claims in excess of €301m. The storm exposed vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and essential services, including energy, water and telecommunications.
Globally, the 10 most costly extreme weather events in 2025 caused damage exceeding €100bn.

The Council has emphasised that adaptation must now become a central national priority, particularly in strengthening flood resilience and critical infrastructure. Protecting people, infrastructure and the economy will require sustained investment in climate resilience, alongside coordinated policy and long-term planning.

The report warns that future risks will intensify without action, with continued warming and more frequent and severe extreme weather events expected. Delaying action will increase future costs, risks and disruption for society.

Prof. Mr Peter Thorne, Chair of the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Advisory Council, said: “Climate change is no longer a future issue. Its damaging impacts are being felt across the environment, the economy and our communities. We are seeing clear evidence that a warming climate is leading to more frequent and severe extreme weather events.
Ireland remains underprepared for these impacts. We must shift from reacting to extreme weather events to anticipating and preparing for them. Effective adaptation measures that tangibly increase resilience are essential to protect people, our economy and our way of life.
This must be underpinned by better data, stronger infrastructure and sustained investment to ensure we are ready for the challenges ahead.
Improving our resilience must also go hand-in-hand with reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, not only to address climate change, but also to protect households and businesses from volatile energy costs and strengthen Ireland’s energy security in an increasingly uncertain global context.”

As part of the Annual Review series in 2025, the Council has called for coordinated Government action, including investment in climate monitoring and infrastructure systems, strengthened policy and legislative frameworks, and a systemic approach to improving national resilience.

A Housing System Under Strain – Ireland’s Growing Emergency.

There’s something deeply unsettling about numbers that keep rising, month after month, especially when each number represents a person without a secure place to call home.

The latest figures show that 17,308 people are now living in emergency accommodation, including 5,457 children. That’s not just a statistic, it’s the population of a small town, displaced and uncertain about what comes next.

What makes this moment particularly striking is not just the scale, but the trajectory. Only a month earlier, the Irisn homeless figure had already crossed 17,000 for the first time. Now it has climbed again. The direction of travel is clear and extremely worrying.

The Visible Crisis, and the Invisible One.
Official data captures those in emergency accommodation, but it doesn’t tell the full story. It leaves out those sleeping in cars, staying on couches, or moving from place to place in unstable arrangements.
Charities working on the ground warn that demand is pushing services to their limits. Some report engaging with multiple new individuals at risk of homelessness every day, while emergency accommodation systems are described as operating “at capacity.”
This suggests that the real scale of housing insecurity is likely far greater than the official figures reveal.

Pressure Points: Evictions and Affordability.
A key factor behind rising homelessness appears to be growing instability in the rental sector.

Eviction notices increased by 41% in late 2025 compared to the previous year.
Over 5,000 notices were issued in just three months.
A large share of these were linked to landlords selling properties.

Each notice represents more than paperwork; it’s a household forced into uncertainty, often with limited options.
At the same time, affordability remains a major barrier. Rent levels continue to rise, and for many households, especially families needing larger homes, suitable properties are simply out of reach.

New Rental Rules: Stability or Side Effects?
Recent changes to rental rules aim to bring more stability, introducing longer tenancy durations and limiting certain types of evictions. On paper, these reforms are designed to create security for tenants and encourage investment in housing supply.
But housing systems are delicate ecosystems. Changes intended to stabilise one part can create pressure elsewhere.
Some property owners argue that tighter regulations may encourage landlords to leave the market. If that happens at scale, it could reduce the number of available rental homes, thus pushing prices higher and intensifying competition.
Others worry about unintended consequences such as rent increases over time, particularly when new tenancies allow prices to reset after a fixed period.
In short, the reforms aim to fix instability, but they also arrive at a moment when the system is already under significant strain.

The Supply Problem at the Core.
Underlying everything is a simple imbalance: there are not enough homes.
Even with tens of thousands of new homes built in recent years, population growth and demand continue to outpace supply. Smaller units dominate new developments, while larger family homes, three and four bedrooms, remain scarce.

This Mismatch has Real Consequences.

Families struggle to find suitable accommodation.
People remain stuck in emergency housing longer.
Transitioning out of homelessness becomes increasingly difficult.

Without enough appropriate housing, the system becomes clogged; fewer exits mean more people entering crisis situations.

A Crisis Beyond Numbers.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the current situation is how normalised it risks becoming.
When figures climb steadily over years, there’s a danger that society begins to accept them as inevitable. But homelessness on this scale is not inevitable, it is the result of multiple pressures converging:

Rising rents.
Limited supply.
Increasing eviction activity.
Gaps in support systems.

And behind every statistic is a person navigating uncertainty, families in hotel rooms, children growing up without stable homes, individuals trying to rebuild their lives without a foundation.

Where Does this Leave Us?
The current moment feels like a tipping point.
There are efforts underway, investment, policy changes, and commitments to increase housing delivery. But the gap between supply and demand remains wide, and the human impact is growing more visible.
What’s clear is that no single solution will resolve this.
Addressing homelessness at this scale requires:

Faster and more targeted housing delivery.
Stronger prevention measures.
Better pathways out of emergency accommodation.
A rental system that balances security with supply.

Until then, the numbers may continue to rise, but more importantly, so too will the number of lives shaped by housing insecurity.
In the end, this isn’t just a housing issue. It’s a reflection of how a society meets one of its most basic responsibilities; ensuring people have a place to live.