|
|
 The dispute on the M7 Castletown/Nenagh stretch has been resolved. This clears the way for the opening of the final section next Wednesday.
Local Fine Gael TD Deputy Noel Coonan welcomed the news stating: “The blockade by contractors has been lifted, sub-contractors have been part-paid and as a result plans are in now in train for the section to finally opened next week, weather of course permitting. The dispute over the final section of the M7 has been settled and thankfully the roadway will open ahead of the New Year. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been lobbying the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, Fred Barry CEO of the NRA and Peter Carey County Manager of Laois County Council to intervene and work together to resolve threats which was preventing the stretch opening. I welcome the resolution of the dispute which has cleared the way for the planned opening of the roadway next Wednesday and hopefully present weather conditions will not intervene.”
This Design and Build scheme is high quality dual carriageway approximately 36 km in length. The existing N7 carriageway will remain in place to serve local road needs. The scheme started at the most easterly junction of the Nenagh bypass and finished at the Borris-in-Ossory interchange which will be constructed as part of the M7/M8 Scheme.
This project has been funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan and Transport 21 and by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.
Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority launched their annual Christmas and New Year campaign called ‘Crashed Lives‘ today. This year’s campaign, launched in Dublin today by President Mary McAleese, focuses on those who have been seriously injured on our roads, and all families who have suffered as a consequences of road collisions.
‘Crashed Lives‘ is a road safety campaign featuring true life case studies in which people speak about the consequences of a crash or about the loss of loved ones in road collisions and how it has changed their lives forever, robbing everyone of their dreams.
Shockingly, a total of 22,882 people have lost their lives on Irish roads since records began in 1959 and a total of 66,773 people have suffered serious life-changing injuries due to road accidents since serious injures were first recorded in 1979. The Tipperary Garda Division which covers county Tipperary north and south experienced 13 road deaths in 2009. Over the holiday season a series of television adverts will be aired, which will feature true life accounts of recent serious road tragedies.
President McAleese stated at the launch: “There is no corner of this island that has not been affected by road deaths and injury. Since I spoke here last year, 227 people lost their lives on our roads. Every single one of them could be and should be alive today. They should be with their families looking forward to Christmas. Instead, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, friends and colleagues are carrying a grief that just goes on and on. We are all gathered here, because we hope that this Christmas road safety campaign will save lives.”
She also reminded, those assembled, of the dangers faced when using the roads at this time of the year and asked everyone to remember those who have been affected by road tragedy, especially those who have been killed, the injured survivors and their family members.
The Chairman of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Gay Byrne, stated that the campaign was about the forgotten victims of road collisions. The veteran broadcaster said: “For every death on EU roads, there are serious injuries, ranging from severe brain damage, life long disablement and spinal cord injuries and simply put, for these people and their families, life will never be the same. Our message to every household today is simple – don’t take life for granted. Stay safe on the roads and make sure you get home safely this Christmas.”
To view full statistics regarding our countries driving behaviour click here.
 Seamus O'Farrell, Mike Pearson, Wray Platt Gurteen Farm Manager, Michael White Teagasc Reps, Bill Condon, all who attended a recent Cross Compliance event at Gurteen College. Speaking at last week’s Agriculture Committee meeting, Deputy Noel Coonan questioned the Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle, on the provision of additional staff and facilities at Gurteen College, to accommodate some of the 250 applicants that were turned down this year.
The North Tipperary and South Offaly TD said: “It is an ill wind that blows no good and the current recession has put the focus on agriculture; which is now perceived by many as the main hope to bring the country out of the mess it is in. I recently spoke with Mike Pearson, Manager of Gurteen College, who told me that he could provide at least a further 100 courses at the establishment if he had the staff and facilities to so do. While Gurteen College is a private institution, I am concerned about budget cutbacks and the inability to provide course places to young people who are crying out for them. A number of young people in my constituency were greatly disappointed when they were unable to secure a place in Gurteen and Mr. Pearson has told me that he could deliver the courses, were he given the resources to so do.”
In response to the Deputies queries, Prof. Boyle said the crux of the issue is the Government’s ban on recruitment. Teagasc’s Director commented: “I probably had representations from the people who contacted the Deputy in regard to admission to the college this year. There was excess demand for places and I regret very much that we had to turn down 250 applicants which is something we never had to do before, purely because we did not have the teaching staff to accommodate the students. The reason is very simple; it is not a policy of Teagasc, rather, it concerns the moratorium. If we were to get external funding for teachers from a generous co-operative or company which said it wanted to support a particular college and sub-vent a number of teachers; we would still not be able to recruit staff under the moratorium. The biggest difficulty we are facing is in dealing with the moratorium on recruitment.”
This means that if Gurteen College loses teachers through early retirement, illness or maternity leave for example, they now cannot hire a teacher. The local Fine Gael TD, who is a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and also F G Party Spokesperson on CAP Reform, said he will continue to lobby the Government to provide additional resources in order to keep our vibrant rural economy alive.
 Ireland’s Shannon Region will host the 2011 Single Speed World Championship Biking Event.
The Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail, located on the borders of counties Limerick, Tipperary and Cork, will host this event which will feature an estimated 500 competitors from more than 30 countries around the world.
The Championships which are being hosted by Sports Academy International with the support of Shannon Development, will takes place on Saturday, 27 August 2011.
The region successfully beat off all other competition from around the world to host the annual event, which was held this year in New Zealand.
Since 1999 this event has attracted participants from throughout the globe and and hundreds of competitors visiting the southwest next August are expected to attract a much needed boost to the local economy.
Announcing the event Dr. Vincent Cunnane, CEO of Shannon Development said: “Winning this prestigious and colourful event for this area continues to endorse the Shannon Region as a premier sports and event destination, which brings over €60 million in revenue annually. With Limerick City’s designation as the European City of Sport for 2011 and the array of events already secured for the Region, 2011 is going to be a fantastic year.”
The Single Speed World Championship, or SSWC, is an annual event. It is only open to bicycles with a single gear ratio. Those bicycles can be either singlespeeds or ‘fixies’. Most of the bicycles used in these races are mountain bikes. However, many people take part in the race on cyclo-cross bicycles, racing bicycles and bicycles defying easy categorization.
Karen Brosnahan from Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau stated: “Tomas Madigan, joint CEO of Sports AI is a true ambassador for the Shannon Region. He competed in a sports event in New Zealand to win this event for the area beating South Africa and Italy, latter very worthy opponents. We are very proud of his efforts and all the more as he was one of the first people to sign up to the sports ambassadors’ programme, which we operate in partnership with Shannon Development.”
 Fianna Fáil Cabinet ministers are considering a report on changes to Irish gaming laws. This report has being fast tracked ahead of next Tuesday’s austerity budget vote and will be signed off on, in the last meeting before the Dáil ends for the Christmas holidays.
The controversial report on the licensing of super-casinos has been fast-tracked for circulation to all government ministers and their departments in the last number of days.
A spokesman for the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said that ministers will sign off on the report at the final cabinet meeting, before the Dáil shuts for the Christmas recess.
The Tipperary Venue Project, a proposed €460 million casino, near the village of Two-Mile-Borris in Tipperary, being developed by Richard Quirke, a former garda who currently runs Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium on O’Connell Street in Dublin, is planned to include a 500-room hotel and a new all weather racecourse facility.
To further proceed, this project requires major reform to the present Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. Major changes to the present Irish gaming laws are now likely to advance the Tipperary Venue project, which has already received local planning permission.
The proposed project cannot proceed further due to legal constraints in the present Irish gambling laws and also an appeal by An Taisce against the projects planning approval, granted by North Tipperary County Council.
|
Support Us Help keep Thurles.info online by donating below. Thank you.
Total Donated 2026: €290.00
Thank You!
Daily Thurles Mass Livestream
|
Recent Comments