Thurles Bypass confirmed in the updated NDP today, a major step forward.
Major Step Forward as Project Enters Pre-Approval Stage Under Government’s Updated Framework.
Now classed as a priority project, it will advance through design & planning, with a push to be construction-ready by 2030.
The long-awaited Thurles Outer Bypass has been formally included in the revised National Development Plan (NDP), announced today, November 26th, 2025. The confirmation marks a significant milestone for the town of Thurles and the wider mid-Tipperary region, placing the long-discussed project back onto the national agenda and ensuring it will now advance through the required planning and design phases.
Damage caused on a regular basis by heavy goods vehicles. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Project Confirmed Under Appendix A of the National Development Plan. According to today’s announcement, the Thurles Bypass is listed within Appendix A of the NDP and designated to progress through the Pre-Approval / Gateway 1 stage. However, this represents only the first formal step in the Government’s project-delivery process, enabling detailed assessment, updated design work, and the preparation of a preliminary business case. The scheme is viewed as essential to addressing long-standing congestion and safety concerns, as well as supporting the town’s commercial and residential development.
Damage caused on a regular basis by heavy goods vehicles. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Associated Road Projects Also Advancing. Today’s publication confirms that the Thurles Bypass will sit alongside other significant transport projects for the area, including:
Thurles Inner Relief Road.
Local realignment schemes intended to improve connectivity and traffic flow.
Additional regional investments aimed at strengthening transport infrastructure across County Tipperary.
These projects combined form an integrated approach to improving mobility, safety, and economic prospects for Thurles town and surrounding areas.
Next Steps: Planning, Design and Approvals: While the Thurles bypass’s inclusion in the NDP does not indicate an immediate start to construction, it does secure its place within the Government’s investment programme through to 2030. The project will now move into:
Updated design and engineering work.
Preparation of statutory documents.
Preliminary business case development.
Environmental and route-corridor assessments.
Progression through further Government approval gates.
List of Strategic Regional Road Projects Scheduled to Commence Construction by 2030.
Project.
Sponsoring Agency.
Current Stage of Project Lifecycle.
Next Approval Gate.
Procurement Timeline.
Construction Timeline.
Successful Tenderer.
Cost Range.
Thurles Inner Relief Road.
Tipperary County Council
Final Business Case
AG1
Procurement by 2026
Commence by 2027
Not yet awarded
€10m- €20m
Appendix A. Thurles Bypass.
Various
Pre-AG1
AG1
?
?
?
?
See table above: “There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip.”King Ancaeus of Samos.
It is now important, unlike in the past, that local representatives, at all levels, emphasise their intention to push for tangible, measurable progress on this project, so that the scheme can be construction-ready by 2030.
A Long-Awaited Boost for Thurles. The bypass is widely regarded as a crucial infrastructure project for Thurles. Heavy traffic, including a high volume of HGVs, currently passes through the town centre, particularly in Liberty Square where national routes intersect. Business groups, residents, and community organisations have repeatedly highlighted the impact on safety, air quality, congestion, and commercial activity.
Today’s confirmation is seen as the first real movement on the project in many years, following earlier plans which stalled during the economic downturn.
The introduction of new legislation allowing consumers to exit mobile and broadband contracts in the event of price hikes is a welcome and long-overdue step. For years, customers have faced routine annual increases, often quietly applied and seldom explained, leaving households paying more for the same level of service.
However, while this new move addresses unfair price rises, it fails to tackle an equally serious issue: with providers continuing to charge full price even when their services are down for extended periods. Across the country, customers routinely experience outages lasting hours or even several days, yet no automatic refunds or meaningful compensation are offered.
This situation is unacceptable. It is fundamentally unfair that consumers are expected to honour their contracts in full when providers do not honour theirs. Reliable service is not a luxury; it is an essential utility, particularly for families working from home, students relying on online learning, and older people depending on digital communication.
Mobile and broadband companies have for too long enjoyed strong profits while delivering inconsistent service, placing the burden on customers who often have little choice of an alternative provider. A voluntary refund system is not good enough.
Regulators and the Irish Government must now go further by compelling providers to:
Introduce automatic compensation for outages, without requiring customers to chase refunds.
Publish clear service-level commitments, including timelines for restoring faults.
Be held accountable for persistent service failures, with penalties for repeated non-compliance.
While this new legislation empowers consumers to walk away from unfair price increases, it is only one part of a wider problem. True consumer protection requires not just the right to leave a contract, but assurance that the service being paid for is delivered reliably and responsibly.
It is time to hold mobile and broadband providers to a higher standard. Irish customers deserve no less.
Public Warning Issued Over the old ‘Family Member’ Text Messaging Scam occurring in Co. Tipperary today.
Gardaí are warning members of the public to be on alert following an increase in fraudulent text messages, “See picture here on right”, same claiming to be from a son or daughter in need of assistance.
In these scams, recipients are urged to save a number and begin messaging, believing they are communicating with their child. The exchanges are designed to extract personal information and build trust. Before long, the victim is asked to send a small sum of money, typically around €20, with further attempts made to obtain additional funds and sensitive details.
Gardaí are advising the public that, if they receive any such message, they should block the number, report it, and not respond under any circumstances.
Recall of a batch of Dunnes Stores Organic Porridge Oats due to possible presence of clear plastic pellets.
Alert Summary dated Tuesday, November 25th, 2025.
Category 1: For Action Alert Notification: 2025.65 Product Identification: Dunnes Store Organic Porridge Oats; pack size: 1 kg Batch Code: 5284 FI; time stamped between 06:00 and 12:00; best before 11/10/2026 Country Of Origin: United Kingdom
Message: The above batch of Dunnes Stores Organic Porridge Oats is being recalled due to the possible presence of clear plastic pellets. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.
Action Required: Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Caterers & Retailers: Retailers: Same are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display a recall notice at point-of-sale. Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.
Pre-deceased by his parents Edward and Margaret and recently deceased son-in-law Stan; Mr Egan passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Nenagh General Hospital, Nenagh, North Co. Tipperary.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving daughters Avril and Nicola, his grandson Milo, sister Anna, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Egan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Egan family 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.
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