Thursday April 26th, 2018 – Picture A shows potholes deemed suitable for filling this week. Picture B shows neglected potholes deemed unsuitable for filling due to cutbacks in rural Ireland.
Thurles, like a lot of midland rural towns, has had its heart ripped out by the recent recession. Its inhabitants have watched helpless as their young people were forced to travel abroad and yes failed by those whom they elected to rule over us.
Today, Thursday April 26th, 2018, €22m of European support was announced for a Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking between the European Union and the private sector. The project is to be based at a new bio-economy campus in Lisheen, Co. Tipperary, converting AgriChem Whey dairy by-product, know as ‘whey permeate’, into lactic acid. This product can be used in industry as a biodegradable plastic; bio-based fertiliser and minerals, according to the project’s promoters.
Politicians and County Councillors lined up for radio interviews this morning, all seeking credit; all not contradicting themselves, but none of them able to confirm a start date. [No doubt an official opening will be organised just before the next election]. Some of them thought it was a €21 million fund; others spoke of €30 million; some spoke of massive job creation for locals; others agreed that those holding bio-economy science degrees in Tipperary were scarce on the ground, suggesting outside job creation to be most likely. None were asked to explain bio-economy.
Meanwhile back in Thurles on Thursday April 26th, 2018, Council staff carry out their boring Thursday routine, filling the potholes in the town. This week they continue to make saving to our local town exchequer, by filling only potholes of a certain depth with poor quality cold tarmac. Next Thursday they will fill the holes again, and the following Thursday, and the following Thursday and so it goes; “like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel, never ending or beginning on an ever-spinning reel”.
This is the joke folks: We are being asked to believe that these elected representatives, from all political groupings, attracted €22 million of European financial support, while at the same time unable to properly regulate / control / administrate / govern, the filling of one simple pothole.
The EU must be a right ‘soft touch’.
Well said George
Well said. If the state of the roads were the only problem that needs to be fixed in Thurles! Employment, traffic problem, general derelict looking state of the Town …