Politics « Thurles Information

LAWPRO To Discuss River Suir, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

As part of 2025 National Heritage Week a ‘walk and talk‘ event will take place here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on Monday evening next, August 18th.
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) officials will hold this event on the banks of the River Suir, initially commencing in front of “The Source” building, at 6:30pm sharp.
As part of this event, LAWPRO officials will explore the rivers history and its significance to the town of Thurles.
LAWPRO was set up in 2016 (Nine years ago) as a shared service on behalf of the 31 Local Authorities in Ireland. The Programme operates nationally out of 13 different Local Authority centres. LAWPRO is supposed to be driving public engagement, participation and consultation with communities and stakeholders at local level via its Communities Team; while delivering a programme of catchment assessment in priority areas for action via its Catchment Science Team and coordinating these activities across the relevant public sector via five Regional Operational Committees.

**It has not rained in Thurles during the last 48 hours, yet today water and litter continues to flow from street drainage pipes into the river.**
*Pic: George Willoughby.*

We are informed that LAWPRO scientists will discuss the water quality within the river Suir and carry out a ‘kick sample‘*.

* Kick Sampling; Scientists can examine the amount of macro-invertebrates by kick sampling. Macro-invertebrates are the small aquatic animals such as insect larva, snails, worms, beetles etc. all of which are excellent indicators of water quality.
Where a river is unpolluted these are to be found in abundance. Where a river has excessive amounts of nutrients and other pollutants, the numbers and types of macro-invertebrates are usually lower and many of the rare and sensitive species are therefore absent.

Thurles.Info has continuously, over the past twelve years, raised this same issue (first on November 7th, 2013, in relation to the River Suir).

In September 2024 we were informed, 11 years later, following a video posted on Thurles.Info, on August 17th last, that a biologist, Mr Fran Igoe, a spokesperson representing the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) has agreed that what is happening in Thurles and the river Suir is ‘shocking‘.
Mr Igoe (LAWPRO) one year ago stated that test results, now show that while one should expect to find a broad range of aquatic insects and bugs, he could only find two species in our town’s river.

One year on, (the above video first published on August 17th 2024) despite promises, nothing has changed.

Last September 2044, the public were informed that LAWPRO, alone, would be drawing up a plan of action which would involve input from all the relevant bodies within a 6 month time span to produce an agreed action plan. At that stage they would apply for funding to carry out all recommendations in this soon to be completed report.
One year on, as far as the public is concerned, – silence – nothing – except the cutting of reeds, twice this year already, latter destroying Mother Nature’s method of cleaning badly polluted water.
One must now assume that if only two species of aquatic insects and bugs reside here, then lack of funding must be the excuse for having to tolerate this deplorable state of our river.

If funding is the problem, where are our out of touch Tipperary elected TD’s namely Alan Kelly, Michael Lowry and Ryan O’Meara, latter two who enjoy offices within Thurles town and all three who enjoy speaking rights in Dáil Éireann.

**The deplorable smelly state of the River Suir today, photographed from Barry’s Bridge in the centre of Thurles.**
*Pic: George Willoughby.*

All ages, including elected councillors and politicians are welcome to attend at this event and for those residents of Thurles, who, rightly, find themselves greatly offended by the current deplorable state of the river Suir, your attendance is a must at this event.

Do Local Tipperary Co. Councillors Ever Wash Dirty Dishes?

My dear readers, I ask this question in all seriousness, having read that nine Tipperary County Councillors tabled a motion at their end of July meeting, which called on the local authority to halt their use of glyphosate weed killer.

Ballina, Co. Tipperary resident and Fine Gael Cllr. Ms Phyll Bugler, said that she was disappointed to learn that the product was still approved in the EU, until December 2033. She felt that cancer bearing glyphosate weed killer could be entering our drinking water system.

Councillor Bugler, dear lady for God sake stop worrying, sure we here in Thurles use Fairy Dishwashing Liquid and allow it to run down from our sinks and into our drains, to enter our drinking water system all the time; despite the warning on the label which declares “Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects”.

Come to think of it, now that may account for the lovely white, frothy, foam substance, often found floating down the River Suir in Thurles!

**Read the Procter & Gamble warning on their Fairy Liquid** **bottle**, **underlined in red**.

Anyway, councillors were quickly informed by their betters, that while they were committed to reducing the use of herbicides and pesticides; glyphosate is not banned in Ireland, and remains approved for use in the EU to control invasive plant species. Since glyphosate is not banned in Europe and since the EU now makes all the laws and requlations governing Ireland; this leaves Simon Harris free to jet around the world pretending he is a world leader.

Senior officials from the German manufacturing chemical company Bayer, (who bought Monsanto’s glyphosate recipe for a mere reported $66 billion in cash), who were listening at the keyhole to this Tipperary council debate, heaved a deep sigh of relief on hearing Tipperary officials support their product.

It is now my belief that the nine councillors involved in this attempted insurgency within the council chamber, have never gotten themselves involved in the insignificant, or dare I say ‘frivolous task’ of washing the dirty dishes.

But sure look, as Charles Dickens once stated in his book ‘David Copperfield’, “Least said, soonest mended”.
Let the next generation worry about it, if there is one.

Irish Probation Service’s Annual Report

Irish Probation Service’s Annual Report shows referrals to the Service increases as well as the total number of Community Service hours.

The Irish Probation Service launches its 2024 Annual Report,
Executive Summary – Statistical Highlights.

Total number of Persons dealt with in Community: 17,150. Up 10% since 2020, and now at the highest level on record.
Total court referrals to the Probation Service: 9,720. Up 5% on 2023.
Number of Community Service Hours ordered in lieu of custodial sentence: 222,245. Up 6.8% on the previous year.
Alternative sentence in years that would otherwise have been served: 856. Up 10% on the previous year.
Number of people in worked with prisons, preparing for reintegration and rehabilitation upon release: 3,521. Up 11% on the previous year.
Referrals for children aged 12-17: 609. Up 10% on the previous year, and higher than any other time since 2015* (*Representing 6% of all referrals, while 94% are aged over 18).

The 2024 Annual Report of the Probation Service highlights the Service’s ongoing commitment to building safer communities across Ireland, through its core work of the supervision and management of people in the community who have offended, offender rehabilitation and reintegration, and services to victims.
However, this work is not without its challenges; challenges that significantly impact all levels of the criminal justice system, and the Service’s ability to provide these services to clients and stakeholders.

Amid continued pressures on the prison system, increased numbers of court referrals and the highest volume of referrals of those aged 12-17 seen since 2015, the Probation Service’s engagement with the Judiciary, the Courts System and Community Service projects – already a key aspect of its service delivery – now holds even more relevance.

The Probation Service is proud to continue essential service delivery in these areas; compiling detailed probation assessments and reports for the judiciary, ensuring court ordered sanctions are implemented, supervising community service orders, and playing a vital role in rehabilitation, social reintegration, skill development and community payback.

In 2024, the Probation Service managed 1,723 Community Service Orders, an increase of 6.8% on the previous year.

This resulted in 222,245 hours of community service nationwide (which is the equivalent of 856 years in prison) resulting in over €2.8 million worth of unpaid work for the benefit of communities nationwide.

In 2024, the duration of the most frequently imposed Probation order was 12 months, while the duration of the most frequently imposed community service order was 40-70 hours.

Launching the Annual Report, Director of the Probation Service, Mark Wilson, said: “The Probation Service’s 2024 Annual Report, published today, captures the breadth of Service’s work in building safer communities and addressing offending behaviour. It underscores how community sanctions play an invaluable role within the administration of justice.
The report details our measurable impact: in 2024, we worked with over 17,100 individuals in the community (a 10% increase since 2020), while our probation officers delivered more than 13,000 court reports, meeting growing demand with unwavering professionalism.
Looking forward, the Probation Service will continue to strengthen collaboration with our partners in the Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs, with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service. We’re also grateful for the ongoing support of our 60+ community funded projects across the country, as we work to tackle complex crime, alleviate pressure on prisons, and most importantly, deliver better outcomes for our clients, their families, victims of crime and the wider community.”

The Probation Service’s 2024 Annual Report also highlights the top six offences resulting in referrals to the Service, representing 75% of all referrals. Unchanged from previous years, and in this order, they were: theft, assault, drug offences, public order, road traffic, and burglary.
In summary, despite the challenges of the current landscape, the Probation Service entered 2025 dedicated to meeting its strategic objectives, delivering greater impact across the justice sector, informed by the knowledge that people can and do change, and that the Probation Service is instrumental to that change; helping people whose behaviour has caused harm to reintegrate into society, while contributing positively to their communities.

Following the release of the Annual Report, selected data from the 2024 edition, and previous annual reports, will be published as open data on Probation.ie and data.gov.ie.

The Probation Service is an executive agency of the Department of Justice. It is responsible for the supervision and management of people in the community who have offended. This is achieved by compiling detailed probation assessments and reports for the judiciary and ensuring court ordered sanctions are implemented.
As a national organisation, with more than 35 community-based offices nationwide and a presence in every county, its programmes are delivered locally by providing services to the courts, custodial institutions, and communities across the country.

Unexpected Closure Of Thurles Racecourse Under Bright Spotlight.

Depending on Irish weather, some 3,000 racing events are run across Ireland every year.
Irish racing got €76 million in State funding last year, 2024, (€25,333 per each race sponsored by the Irish taxpayer) and in its new strategic plan, it is suggested that Horse Racing Ireland aims to obtain a targeted figure of over €92 million, over the next 3 years, up to end of 2028. Do we know how this money is spent?

Following the unexpected closure of Thurles racecourse, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) has stated that the combination of declining media revenue rights, together with rising business costs, over recent years, is instrumental in the continuing decline of Ireland’s smaller racetracks.

The shock announcement on Friday morning last, by the Molony family, citing the cost of doing business as a major factor in their decision to immediately close Ireland’s sole privately owned racecourse, most certainly caught Horse Racing Ireland (HRI); horse racing punters and local Thurles businesses, completely by surprise.

Local politicians claimed they knew about the families intentions, while local councillors were left speechless.

It is now reckoned that this Thurles racetrack would require a multimillion euro investment, in a effort to comply with new licensing requirements, same demanded by Irish Horse-racing Regulatory Board (IHRB).

Last June, 2025, the HRI and IHRB issued minimum requirements for all racecourses, including provision for watering systems. Thurles racecourse had lost three meetings at the end of last year, due to hard ground conditions and currently does not have the now required track watering system. To install, same we understand would require an investment of at least €300,000, to set this matter to rights.
Same is now essential for all tracks, following the regulatory body’s investigation into the sad death of jockey Mr Michael O’Sullivan, due to injuries sustained in a fall at this Thurles track, last February.

A total redevelopment of the Thurles racecourse facility, which would bring same up to the new required standards, is estimated to cost about €3 million and we understand that under Horse Racing Ireland capital development fund rules, the present owners would have to pay three-fifths of any future cost, amounting to €1,800,000.

This closure highlighted in Thurles has now put the finances of Ireland’s 25 other racecourses under a very bright spotlight, with many tracks watching with worried interest at the results of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) meeting with the Thurles track owners; understood to be happening in the near future.

The Irish Horse racing board (IHRB) rightly claim that their aim is to ensure all racecourses operate to high standards, with the safety and well-being of those participating, a major priority. They confirm that the new racecourse manual, is intended to support racecourses in that same aim over time and is not to impose sudden demands, which in turn creates unsurmountable barriers.

Major Road Repairs Still Required Within The Town Of Thurles.

Temporary repairs which were undertaken this week on the surface of Slievenamon Road, has been successful.

Machine planing of this 200 metre section was undertaken on the night of July 29th last and total resurfacing was completed on the following night, thus greatly improving what was previously the most potholed streetscape of any town in Europe.

**Section of road at the junction incline on Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher *(R659)*.**

Sadly, to quote Mr Bertie Ahern’s old slogan from many past Irish General Elections, quote, “A lot done, but a lot more to do”.

Perhaps local councillors and their officials would like to take a peek at the public thoroughfare at the junction of Innisfallon Avenue and Stradavoher on the R659, opposite the Honda car dealership of Denis Kinane Motors.

Twice a week over the past number of years this area received a couple of shovels of cold tarmac; often beaten into pools of water. Two mounds of torn up loose gravel now forms two hillock on this steep incline, requiring same to be removed and more permanent repairs undertaken, as soon as possible.

When finished there, the entrance to Westgate might receive further consideration.

Lest, in our daily haste we forget, motor tax revenues generated an estimated €6.5 to €7.0 billion for the Irish Exchequer last year, according to reports.
The Irish State received over €1.6 billion from both the Vehicle Registration Tax on new and imported cars and the VAT on servicing parts and repairs. It also received almost €4.0 billion from fuel taxes and an estimated €1.0 billion from annual motor taxes. Based on the appearances of road surfaces over the past almost 4 years, it appears that Thurles town is entitled only to the odd daily shovel of cold tarmac to fill its craters.

Time now for these areas to be surface planed and resurfaced and stop wasting the precious time and energy of a skilled council worker force.