Travel « Thurles Information

€7,088 In Unsupported Political Expenses, – Cases Identify One Former Tipperary Politician.

A newly published audit by the Houses of the Oireachtas has found that seven TDs and senators claimed a combined €7,088 in expenses without sufficient supporting documentation, raising renewed concerns over compliance with Public Representation Allowance (PRA) rules.

The audit reviewed over €286,000 in expense claims from a random sample of elected representatives in 2023. While the majority of claims were valid, the findings highlight recurring issues around documentation, eligibility, and cost-sharing practices.

Importantly, the report confirmed that all disallowed amounts have since been repaid to the State, and that €115,593 of claims by the same group were deemed fully compliant and approved.

Key Findings from the Audit.

€7,088 in claims lacked sufficient evidence or eligibility.
€5,793 disallowed for falling outside approved expense categories.
€735 incorrectly claimed due to improper cost-sharing (pro-rata issues).
€560 rejected due to missing receipts or documentation.
Audit covered 22 politicians (only 10% sample) annually.

The auditors stressed that all claims must be “wholly and exclusively” related to official duties and supported by clear documentation.

Recurring Issues Identified.
The report highlighted repeated compliance problems, including:

Incorrect advertising expense claims.
Failure to split shared costs (e.g. newsletters featuring multiple politicians).
Errors in annual cost apportionment (utilities, insurance, IT services).

Auditors recommended ongoing guidance and reminders for Oireachtas members, and even suggested reviewing the eligibility of AI-related expenses going forward.

Tipperary Politician Highlight:
Mr Martin Browne (Former Tipperary Sinn Féin TD).
One of the most notable cases involving a Tipperary politician was Mr Martin Browne (Sinn Féin), identified as claiming the second-highest ineligible claim of €1,729 in expenses which was disallowed.
This placed Mr Browne among the top individuals flagged in the report for non-compliant expense claims, though, like all others involved, the funds were fully reimbursed.

Other Notable Cases.

Ms Pauline Tully (Sinn Féin) – €3,060 (largest disallowed amount).
Ms Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fáil) – €1,256.
Mr Francis Noel Duffy (Former Irish Green Party) – €470.
♦ Additional smaller claims ranged from €140 to €266.

Majority of Claims Audited – Fully Compliant.
The audit also confirmed that 15 politicians provided complete documentation, accounting for €279,124 in valid expenses. These included senior government figures and long-serving TDs, demonstrating that compliance is achievable when guidelines are properly followed.

Conclusion.
While the overall level of irregular claims remains relatively low, and all funds have been repaid, the audit underscores persistent procedural weaknesses in how some politicians manage expenses.
The findings reinforce the need for:

Stronger compliance awareness.
Better documentation practices.
Clearer guidance on shared and emerging expense categories.

As scrutiny around public spending continues, transparency and accountability remain central to maintaining public trust in elected representatives.

Warning From An Garda Síochána Tipperary.

An Garda Síochána Tipperary are asking those wishing to attend the Tipperary V Cork match on Sunday next April 19th, to please be aware that there is roadworks around the Semple Stadium, Thurles, which may affect your journey time. Please see image hereunder.

**Image courtesy An Garda Síochána Tipperary.**

An Garda Síochána Tipperary are asking that attendee’s leave plenty of time for your trip to Tipp.

Ambulance Staff Set For Strike Action In Escalating Pay Dispute.

The Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) has formally notified the National Ambulance Service (NAS) of planned strike action next month, marking a significant escalation in a long-running dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) over pay and working conditions.

Around 2,000 SIPTU members working across the ambulance service in Ireland, including Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and supervisors, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including full strike action.

The planned industrial action will begin with a 24-hour strike on 12 May, followed by a 48-hour stoppage starting on 19 May and a 72-hour stoppage from 26 May. Further strikes are also scheduled for June.

In addition, a work-to-rule will commence on 11 May, meaning staff will not cooperate with new procedures or changes introduced by management.

The dispute centres on the HSE’s failure to implement recommendations from an independent review published in 2020, which called for updated salary scales to reflect the increased responsibilities and workload of ambulance staff over the past two decades.

According to SIPTU, ambulance personnel now provide a far higher level of pre-hospital care than in the past, requiring additional training, qualifications and clinical decision making. The union argues that despite these expanded duties,including a significant increase in medication administration, staff pay and grading structures have not been updated to reflect these changes.

Government Announces Extended Fuel Relief Measures.

Government Announces Extended Fuel Relief Measures as Pressure Mounts to End Disruptive Protests.

The Government has confirmed a further extension of fuel cost relief measures, as Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin announced new steps aimed at easing the financial burden on households and businesses amid ongoing nationwide protests.

Under the revised plan, temporary reductions in excise duty on petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil will now remain in place until the end of July, rather than expiring at the end of May.

The updated measures include:

A 10 cent per litre reduction on both petrol and diesel.
A 2.4 cent per litre reduction on marked gas oil (“green diesel”).
A deferral of the planned carbon tax increase, originally due in May, now postponed until the Budget in October.

These steps are intended to provide immediate cost relief in response to sustained increases in fuel prices linked to global supply pressures.

Despite these concessions, significant disruption continues across the country as protest actions, largely organised via informal networks of transport operators, farmers, and drivers, have blocked key transport routes and fuel depots.

The Government has reiterated that it recognises the financial strain facing those in fuel-dependent sectors. However, it has strongly criticised the ongoing blockades, warning that such actions are having serious and disproportionate consequences for the general public.

With schools reopening and workers returning after the weekend, the continuation of these protests risks widespread impact on daily life. Commuters face delays, families are affected in getting children to school, and essential services, including healthcare and emergency response, remain under pressure due to fuel supply concerns and traffic disruption.

The obstruction of critical infrastructure, including fuel depots and major roadways, has also raised concerns about the availability of medicines, agricultural supplies, and other time-sensitive deliveries.
Authorities, including An Garda Síochána, have now moved into an enforcement phase, and the Defence Forces remain on standby to assist in removing vehicles where necessary.

Public Interest and Proportionality.
While the Government’s latest measures demonstrate a willingness to respond to rising costs, the continuation of large-scale disruption raises serious questions about proportionality.

The burden of these protests is not being carried by policymakers alone, it is being felt most acutely by ordinary members of the public. Workers attempting to commute, parents preparing for the school week, and vulnerable individuals relying on timely access to services are all directly affected.

In this context, the persistence of blockades appears increasingly difficult to justify, particularly as concrete measures have now been introduced to address core concerns around fuel pricing.

The Government has urged all participants to disengage from disruptive actions and instead pursue dialogue through established representative bodies, emphasising that meaningful progress can only be achieved without jeopardising public safety and national infrastructure.

Further developments are expected in the coming days as pressure intensifies to restore normality across the country.

Tipperary County Council: World Leaders in Revenue Collection.

Tipperary County Council: World Leaders in Revenue Collection, but still Struggling With… Roads.

Tipperary County Council has proudly confirmed that it extracted a tidy €308,112 in parking fines in 2025, proving once again that when it comes to collecting money, efficiency is not an issue.

Fixing roads, however, remains a bold and experimental concept. See in particular Emmett Street, Westgate junction, Barry’s Bridge etc. etc. here in Thurles,

Across nine towns, thousands of motorists were “caught red-handed”, — “embarrassed even”, according to local press reports, having been photographed by traffic wardens, committing the heinous crime of allowing two wheels to exist slightly outside a faded white line or failing to have their hair permed within the 15 minute permitted free time frame.

Thurles, notably, now continues to excel in two key areas:
(1) Generating revenue.
(2) Avoiding pothole repairs.

Of course, as one would expect, Clonmel led the charge with 2,469 fines, followed by Nenagh with 1,346 fines, Thurles (God help us in a town where most car parks were closed in 2025) 1,258 fines, while Carrick-on-Suir tried and failed to catch-up with a mere 1,052 fines.

A further breakdown reveals a more refined vehicle operator:
Tipperary Town: 914 fines.
Cashel: 548 fines.
Templemore: 267 fines.
Roscrea: 256 fines.
Cahir: took the wooden spoon, with a miserable 142 fines only.
Still all admirable figures, if the goal is to run a highly efficient penalty collection service, rather than maintain public infrastructure.

Motorists are charged €40 – €80 for parking offences, rising by 50% after 28 days, because nothing says “public service” like interest rates that would impress a credit card company.

Other highlights include:
♣ €60 for failing to display a tax disc.
♣ In keeping with Health & Safety, No Charge for failing to display a NCT disk.
♣ €150 for parking in a disabled space.

Meanwhile, in Thurles, the surface of Barry’s Bridge is once again disintegrating, bravely demonstrating the council’s innovative “Natural Erosion Management Strategy.”

Residents are reportedly delighted to see their contributions; over €300,000 worth, being reinvested into… somewhere; possibly sending salaried staff on St Patrick’s weekend junkets; but certainly not road surfaces.

A spokesperson, (latter who does not wish to be named), standing carefully to avoid loose flying gravel, stated: “We take great pride in maintaining strict parking enforcement, while also maintaining a flexible, evolving interpretation of the word ‘roadworthy.”

Local drivers have expressed confusion, noting that while their tyres are expected to meet exact legal standards, the road beneath them appears to be auditioning for a gravel pit.
Experts confirm that if potholes themselves could be fined, Tipperary County Council would likely be running a budget surplus.

Until then, motorists are advised to:
♦ Display their tickets correctly facing upwards.
♦ Pay promptly.
♦ Have a suspension system worthy of Dakar Rally conditions▲ when crossing Barry’s Bridge.
{▲The Dakar Rally is considered the world’s most challenging endurance motorsport event, held annually over two weeks in extreme desert conditions.}

Wonder would Tipperary Sinn Féin TDs meet and move a motion of no confidence in Tipperary Co. Council. Ops, sorry, forgot that the Tipperary electorate failed to elect Sinn Féin TD’s, last election. I wonder why?

Yes, here in Tipperary, the fines are fixed – but the roads are anything but.