Gardaí are investigating after security workers were assaulted and a number of vehicles were extensive damaged by fire overnight, at a site in the area of Heywood Road, on the edge of Clonmel town, South Co. Tipperary.
The area was the subject of plans by the Department of Integration and the OPW to install 82 modular homes for refugees, latter fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The site was part of a parcel of land owned by the HSE and is in the process currently of being transferred to the Office of Public Works OPW. We understand that it is likely to be late this year before the pre-built homes will start to arrive on the property and possibly early next year before same are ready for occupation.
According to Gardaí, the incident is understood to have happened at around 11:40pm last night, when security personnel, contracted to work at the site, were assaulted by a number of individuals.
One of the security personnel was later hospitalised, while a number of vehicles were extensively damaged.
Gardaí have conducted a technical examination of the scene and are appealing for any witnesses to the incident, including persons with mobile phone or dash cam footage to get in touch with them.
The OPW have confirmed that it is fully aware of this incident and that it has engaged with the contractor, Sisk Ltd, in relation to further site security and also with An Garda Síochána regarding, what it refers to as, public order issues arising at the site.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr Darragh O’Brien TD, has appointed Friday, June 7th 2024, as the polling day for the European Parliament Elections and Local Council Elections.
European Parliament ElectionsJune 7th 2024.
The Minister has clarified the time period during which candidates can exhibit election posters. Candidates can only erect posters from May 8th 2024, (30 days before the polling date). There is then a requirement for candidates to remove all posters within 7 days of the poll taking place.
Tipperary County Council – Roads Posters Protocol. There is a protocol in place with respect to the placement of posters along roads and streets in Co. Tipperary in the interests of road safety. The Council needs/must be mindful of the safety of all road users – pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. The following limitations will apply: • Posters may only be erected for a certain specified time period before a polling date in accordance with the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997(as amended) and the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009. For the forthcoming polls, candidates can only erect posters from May 8th 2024. • Posters must be removed within 7 days of polling day. These requirements are set out in the Litter Pollution Act 1997 (as amended) and the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009. • Cable ties are considered to be part of the posters and must also be removed. • No signage is to be erected on a roundabout or within 50m of the entrance to a roundabout. • No signage is to be erected on existing road signage poles. • No signage is to be erected where it blocks sightlines from entrances onto any road. • No signage is to be erected on pedestrian safety barriers. • Where Tipperary County Council deems a sign to be hazardous, a distraction to safe movement of road users, or in breach of the above rules, it may remove that sign for storage at the local depot where it can be collected within one week of removal. • Electronic Display Panels, also known as Variable Message Signs (VMS) or VMS display panels are not permitted to be used for any purpose connected with the election/referendum, as they are considered to be advertisement structures requiring an appropriate planning permission. • Motorways/High Speed Dual Carriageways: Candidates and election workers are advised that, with the exception of emergency situations, it is illegal to stop on motorways for any purpose, including the erection of election material. Similarly, for road safety and efficiency the same applies in the case of dual carriageways. • Bridges: There is an inherent risk in the practice of suspending or attaching banners and posters to/from road overbridges and pedestrian bridges. • Election candidates should ensure that all campaign workers are made aware of the dangers of working at the road side and not to place themselves or others at risk when erecting posters. Such workers should take necessary safety precautions for both themselves and other road users.
Signed: Liam Brett. Director of Services Roads and Transportation.
Failure to fix faulty septic tanks is a risk to human health and the environment, and can’t continue, says Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Local authorities completed 1,189 septic tank inspections in 2023, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells, which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
45% of septic tanks failed inspection. It is critically important that householders fix septic tanks that fail inspection as such failures have the potential to be a risk to human health and the environment.
Enforcement by local authorities is inconsistent and needs to improve, with Waterford, Roscommon and Kilkenny having the lowest rates of septic tank failures resolved.
Grants for fixing septic tanks have increased from €5,000 to €12,000.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2023, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2023. Of the 1,189 septic tanks inspected, 45% (532) failed because they were not built or maintained properly.
Water Service Authority.
Inspections Required 2023.
Inspections Completed 2023.
Systems Failing between 2013 & 2023.
Percent Fixed 2023.
Co. Tipperary
40
40
169
only72%
Comparisons:‘Percent Fixed’ for Co. Louth was 98%, Co. Wicklow97%, Fingal97%, South Dublin94%, Co. Longford88%, Co. Cavan89%, Co. Limerick84% and Co. Cork90%, leaving Co. Tipperary(shown on the above table) only moderately rated, when it comes to percentage of failures fixed.
Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. The EPA’s National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 has identified the number of inspections that need to be completed, particularly near rivers and in areas where septic tanks are co-located with household drinking water wells. Local authorities are required to complete a minimum of 1,200 inspections annually as part of their implementation of the plan.
Commenting on the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said, “Faulty septic tanks are a risk to human health and the environment and must be fixed. The EPA, through the National Inspection Plan, has identified rivers and areas where household drinking water wells are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks. Local authority inspections are targeted in these areas. It is critical that householders protect their family’s health and the environment by fixing the problems identified, drawing on the enhanced grants now available.”
Where septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The EPA report found that there were 576 cases where issues notified to householders over two years previously had still not been addressed.
The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. This presents a significant opportunity for householders to fix their septic tanks and resolve open advisory notices.
Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said, “It is unacceptable that the number septic tanks left un-fixed for more than two years continues to rise. Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities to ensure failed systems are fixed. Where faulty septic tanks are not being fixed, particularly given the availability of the enhanced grant scheme, local authorities need to use their enforcement powers to protect the environment and public health.”
The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 – 2026 was published by the EPA in 2021. The plan requires a minimum of 1,200 inspections from 2023 onwards. There was a shortfall in inspections by five local authorities in 2023 and these need to be completed in 2024. The EPA issued legal directions to make up for shortfalls in inspections by Waterford County Council in 2022 and to Galway County Council in 2023.
Another question for ‘Canvassing Councillors’ and ‘Would Be MEP’s’ calling to your door.
Community Gardaí from Tipperary are inviting persons to come along to the first in a series of talks in libraries in Thurles, Templemore, Tipperary Town, and Killenaule. Same is part of the Tipperary Bealtaine Festival and will focus on all matters aimed at keeping people safe.
Keeping People Safe – An Garda Síochána Tipperary.
As part of ongoing investigations aimed at the activities of a Munster-based organised criminal group; Gardaí stationed at Clonmel Garda Station, in South Tipperary have conducted a series of search operations at locations in Co. Tipperary and neighbouring Co. Clare, on dates including March 27th and April 30th 2024.
One of the cars seized during Tipperary Garda search operations on April 30th last. Image courtesy of An Garda Síochána.
While as yet, no arrests are being immediately planned during this phase of search operations; Gardaí have confirmed that same represents a significant development in their current ongoing investigation.
During Garda searches, two cars, each valued at €60,000, were seized, together with €2,950 in cash. Five separate bank accounts, containing deposits totalling €17,000 have also been frozen; same confiscated under present Irish money laundering legislation.
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