Thurles Information

Covid-19 Cases Increase By 1,095 On Irish Mainland In Past 24 Hours.

In the Republic of Ireland, our Department of Health has reported 4,042 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 4,746 positive antigen tests, same registered through the HSE portal; a total, in all, of 8,788, same up 1,094 cases on yesterdays reported figures.

There were 661 Covid patients in our Republic’s hospitals; up 8 on yesterday, with 46 in ICU, at 8:00am this morning; latter same figure as reported yesterday.

Across Northern Ireland, a further 2,408 cases of coronavirus were reported today, up 1 on the from 2,407 cases reported on yesterday.

Today there were 483 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals in Northern Ireland, up from 477 reported yesterday.

Of these Covid patients, 5 remain in intensive care units, the same number also as reported yesterday.

Sadly, a further 3 more Covid-19-related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland over the past 24 hours.

15 Ambulances Queued Outside ED At University Hospital Limerick Yesterday.

Surely, Tipperary politicians could find at least one of their highly paid personal assistants, working from home, with the ability to write even a short paragraph, highlighting the current major difficulties being experienced at University Hospital Limerick.

For example, this would allow Teachtaí Dála, like Mr J. Cahill or Mr M. Lowry to communicate their characteristic explosive spitting and choking noises in Dáil Éireann, in the weeks ahead, and more importantly be caught on TV.

I say this in the knowledge that sources within the ambulance service, confirm that at least 15 ambulances were queued-up outside the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

Same delays, we understand, were due to high levels of patient overcrowding. Yesterday also, there were 81 patients waiting for a bed in the hospital serving North Tipperary, recorded in daily figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

All 24-hour Emergency department services in the Midwest Region were in the past reconfigured into University Hospital Limerick and yesterday sources confirmed that there were not enough trolleys to allow incoming patients to be handed over to hospital staff.

It is widely acknowledged that pressure in UHL could be greatly reduced if 24-hour emergency departments in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, in Ennis, Co. Clare and St. John’s in Limerick city were re-opened.
UHL has a current catchment area containing over 400,000 people and is almost daily, consistently the most overcrowded hospital within the Irish State.

Last month the INMO called on the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) to investigate overcrowding at the medical facility.

On January 25th, the nurses’ union confirmed it recorded 97 patients without a bed at the hospital, latter the highest number recorded in any Irish hospital since the union began compiling trolley figures.

EPA Enforcement Efforts Targeted Unauthorised Peat Extraction, Waste Management & Water Quality.

The EPA carried out 1,295 inspections at EPA licensed sites during the year, a 19% increase, compared with 2020.
The EPA carried out a number of targeted enforcement campaigns in 2021.
48 inspections at unauthorised peat extraction sites.
41 inspections at waste licensed sites, with a focus on improving fire risk management.
The removal of 14 sites from the EPA’s Water Framework Directive Significant Pressure list.
Eleven sites were identified as National Priority Sites in 2021, a decrease from the twelve sites in 2020. Eight of these 11 National Priority Sites were from the Food & Drink and Intensive Agriculture sectors.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its annual summary report on the enforcement activities carried out in 2021, along with the list of sites which were designated a National Priority Site during the year.

**The full list of National Priority Sites for 2021**.

This report shows that, despite the ongoing significant challenges and impact of Covid-19, the EPA increased their enforcement activities at industrial and waste licences at the 840 licenced installations throughout Ireland.

The report published today highlights the main issues at licensed activities during 2021 and outlines what actions the EPA took to enforce environmental conditions at these activities.

Individuals or companies who operate either without an EPA licence or breach that licence, were targeted by the EPA for enforcement.
The role of the public in reporting non-compliant or illegal operations to the EPA is a vital tool in helping us to address the environmental issues that may result and we encourage the public to report any concerns to the EPA.

Commenting on the publication of the annual summary report, Dr. Tom Ryan, Director, EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“The EPA focused its enforcement efforts in 2021 on tackling unauthorised extraction of peat, improving water quality downstream of licenced sites and the safe and appropriate management of waste.
Our enforcement activities are risk based and are targeted at sites that are not complying with their EPA licence requirements. We carried out almost 1,300 inspections of industrial and waste licensed activities and a further 55 inspections of unauthorised activities which require a licence or must cease operation.”

The EPA has also published the latest National Priority Sites List for 2021. The number of National Priority Sites in 2021 (11) was down slightly when compared with 2020 (12).
The EPA will continue to focus its resources where they are most needed and to ensure compliance at all sites.

Commenting on the publication, Mr. Darragh Page, Programme Manager, EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“The eleven sites on the National Priority Sites List in 2021 were the subject of targeted enforcement action. This represents around one per cent of the total sites licensed by the EPA. Sites from the food and drink and intensive agriculture sector made up almost three quarters of the sites on the National Priority Sites List during 2021.
These sectors must improve if Ireland is to support its green image of sustainable food and drink production.
Our enforcement objective is to ensure these sites resolve the environmental issues and for the sites to return to compliance.”

The report ‘Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2021’ is now available on the EPA HERE.

Revenue seize drugs worth €194,000.

Revenue seize drugs worth €194,000, some of which were bound for Co. Tipperary.

Yesterday (02/03/2022), as a result of routine profiling, Revenue officers, examining parcels at two premises in Dublin, seized just over 6.9 kgs of various types of drugs including herbal cannabis, cannabis resin, heroin, methamphetamine, butane honey oil and hash cakes; all with an estimated value of approximately €194,000.

The illegal drugs were discovered, with the assistance of detector dogs Sam and Bailey, concealed in parcels labelled as ‘stickers’, ‘pet clothes’, ‘clothes’, ‘pencils’, ‘shoes’ and ‘antique glassware’.

Same originated in the United States, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and were destined for addresses in Tipperary, Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork, Limerick, Clare and Longford.

Investigations remain ongoing.

The above seizures remain part of Revenue’s ongoing operations, targeting the importation of illegal drugs. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

Help Tipperary Search & Rescue With Ukrainian Humanitarian Collection.

That wonderful organisation, Tipperary Search & Rescue, are operating a Humanitarian Collection on behalf of war victims fleeing war torn Ukraine.

Mr Brian Keady reports:-
Next Sunday morning, March 6th, 2022, Tipperary Search & Rescue will operate two humanitarian collection points, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Collection Points are as follows: –
* Kenyon Street Carpark, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
* The Source Carpark, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

If you would like to assist us in our endeavours, please contact us via our Social Media page, found HERE.

What we are looking for: –

* Medical Supplies, first aid kits, bandages.
* Toiletries of all kinds, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo.
* Blankets, sheets, sleeping bags and towels.
* Flashlights and batteries.

Already our membership has come together and purchased items to send to help those fleeing the situation in Ukraine.
We are now asking the people of Co. Tipperary, if at all possible, to further assist in this Humanitarian effort.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are we doing for others’?