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Motorists are being urged to remain on high alert after reports of a fraudulent website impersonating the National Car Test (NCT) booking service, designed to mislead people into making payments without actually securing any test appointment.
This scam site has been reported as closely resembling the legitimate NCT booking pages and is understood to be appearing through search engine results, where drivers searching to book a test may be diverted to the counterfeit platform.
Recent reports indicate victims have been charged amounts ranging from approximately €60 up to €600 for what is presented as an “NCT booking” or “service fee”, but no valid booking is then made.
Only use the official NCT booking site.
The only official and legitimate website for booking or managing an NCT appointment is: ncts.ie
Motorists are advised to type the address directly into their browser rather than clicking on sponsored links or unfamiliar results.
How to protect yourself – Key advice for motorists
Book only via ncts.ie (avoid lookalike sites and “booking agents” charging extra fees).
Check the web address carefully before entering any personal or payment details.
Be cautious of sites that demand unexpected additional payments or apply pressure to pay quickly.
If in doubt, leave the page and go directly to ncts.ie in a fresh browser window.
If you think you have been scammed!
Anyone who believes they may have made a payment to a fraudulent site should act immediately:
Contact your bank or card provider without delay to report the transaction and seek advice on stopping or disputing payment.
Report the matter to your local Garda station, bringing any relevant evidence (screenshots, emails, transaction confirmations, and the web address used).
HSE Walk-In Children’s Flu Vaccine Clinic In Thurles on Tuesday January 20th
Parents and guardians in Thurles and surrounding areas are reminded that a free walk-in flu vaccination clinic for children (ages 2 to 17 years) will take place next week at the Thurles Primary Care Centre on Mitchel Street.
Clinic details: Walk-in – no appointment needed.
Date: Tuesday 20th January
Time: 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Venue: Thurles Primary Care Centre, 22A Mitchel Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 K4C2).
About the vaccine.
Children aged 2 to 17 can receive the nasal flu vaccine free of charge. The vaccine is given as a spray in the nose, with the vaccinator spraying once into each nostril.
The flu vaccine helps to protect children against flu, and flu can lead to serious complications for some children, including pneumonia.
What to bring.
Please bring ID with your child’s date of birth, such as a passport, birth certificate, Public Services Card or school ID.
Other options.
If you cannot attend the walk-in clinic, your child can also get the flu vaccine through your GP or pharmacist (free for children aged 2 to 17).
Further information.
For general queries, you can contact HSE Live on Freephone 1800 700 700.
Further update to SMA infant formula and follow on formula recall to include batches and products possibly distributed to Ireland from the UK.
Alert Summary dated Tuesday, January 13th 2026.
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2026.01 (Update 4)
Product Identification: Please see ‘List of batches and products’ in Message section below for product details.
Batch Code: Please see ‘List of batches and products’ in Message section below for batch codes and expiry dates. Please note, batch codes can be found on the base of the tin or box for powdered formulas or the base of the outer box and on the side/top of the container for ready-to-feed formulas.
Message:
Further to FSAI Food Alert 2026.01, FSAI Food Alert 2026.01 (Update 1), FSAI Food Alert 2026.01 (Update 2), FSAI Food Alert 2026.01 (Update 3), the FSAI is notifying consumers of the possible presence of cereulide in additional SMA infant formula and follow on formula batches and products in the list below, due to possible indirect distribution to Ireland from the UK.
See Here: List of affected batches and products.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
Questions and answers.
Nestlé is advising its customers that have purchased any of these batches to contact them via its online form, by sharing a photo of the product and the batch code: www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/getintouch; or by calling its careline on Tel: 1800 931 832.
Nature Of Danger:
Cereulide toxin is produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus. The toxin may be pre-formed in a food and is extremely heat resistant. Consumption of foods containing cereulide toxin can lead to nausea and severe vomiting. Symptoms can appear within five hours. The duration of illness is usually 6 to 24 hours.
Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers & Retailers:
Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers/Distributors: Same are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
Consumers: Parents, guardians and caregivers are advised not to feed the implicated batches to infants or young children.
Most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the Irish State.
The government has given approval to publish the International Protection Bill 2026, legislation that will lead to the “most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State” in line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
The Bill will put in place a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term and will ensure Ireland’s policy aligns with other EU countries.
The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure that is consistent with how asylum laws operate across the EU.
The Bill introduces faster processing of asylum claims with a much more efficient decision-making system. Faster processing will mean that applicants spend less time in IPAS accommodation, and it will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State. Faster decision-making will also mean that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner, and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner.
The International Protection Bill 2026 will replace the International Protection Act 2015.
In July 2025, the Department launched the first phase of pilot pact implementation programme. The first phase aimed to test the ability to process cases end-to-end within the time frame of the future Border Procedure. This requires a first and second-instance decision, with a return order where appropriate, delivered within 12 weeks, and a return effected within a further 12 weeks. During this first phase, the implementation team also mirrored some elements of the screening process as well as parts of the future border procedure that are permitted under current legislation.
Phase one was conducted from July 1st to October 7th 2025 and included applicants from three designated safe countries of origin, Georgia, India and Brazil.
During the initial three months, pilot applicants were successfully processed within the 12 week timeline permitted for first and second instance decisions under the Border Procedure. On average, cases took less than 60 days from application to final decision being issued.
This represents a significant shift from the current median processing times in the IPO and IPAT, and therefore a significant reduction in costs for accommodation and other supports.
On October 8th 2025 the second phase of the transition pilot was launched with the addition of the remaining 12 designated safe countries of origin. Early this year future phases of the pilot will be implemented, in advance of the Pact coming into effect in June 2026.
The government and the Attorney General are developing provisions for inclusion in the Bill to give effect to the proposals, approved by Government on November 26th 2025, that adults who are beneficiaries of international protection will not be entitled to seek family reunification for a period of three years following their grant of international protection.
They must also demonstrate that they are financially self-sufficient. This will be assessed by reference to appropriate income thresholds to be prescribed by the Minister. They will also have to show financial self-sufficiency and not be in receipt of certain social welfare payments or owe money relating to International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) payments.
The Government proposes to bring forward amendments at Committee Stage to address Material Reception Conditions, Restrictions of Movement, Detention, Special Reception Needs and Labour Market Access, as required by the EU Reception Conditions Directive.
Other matters to be dealt with by amendments to the Bill during the legislative process include legal counselling, legal advice and legal aid, and matters relating to data sharing.
The Bill will now be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas and follow the standard parliamentary process over the coming months with a view to enactment in the Spring session, so that it can become operational as required by EU law by June 12th 2026.
The pre-legislative scrutiny report on the General Scheme, including 92 recommendations, was published on December 1st. Some recommendations have been given effect in the published Bill, and others will be considered as the Bill proceeds through the legislative process.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Tuesday 13th January 2026, of Mrs Margaret Shanahan (née Stokes), Childers Park, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Graiguemane, Coalbrook, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre-deceased by her husband John, parents Edmund and Mary, sisters Jo, Mary, and Frances, great-grandson Noah; Mrs Shanahan passed away peacefully following a long illness most bravely borne.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving son Derek, daughter Rhona (Flanagan), grandchildren Nicole, John, Erin, Kayla and Saoirse, great-grandson Finn, daughter-in-law Anna, son-in-law Tom, sisters Esther and Noreen (Tobin), brothers Tom, John and Pat, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Shanahan will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, (Eircode E41 CP59), on Thursday afternoon, January 15th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, before being received into the Church of St Joseph and St Brigid, Bothar-na-Naomh, Thurles at 7:45pm same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mrs Shanahan will be offered on Friday morning, January 16th, at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St Peter’s Cemetery, Moycarkey, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Shanahan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Shanahan and Stokes families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
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