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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Tipperary task force progress

Summary

Mattie McGrath said the Tipperary town and west Tipperary task force had stalled and needed to get working, with uncertainty about the chairperson’s role and funding. Eoghan Murphy replied that the issue was being pursued urgently, funding was available, and several schemes could support the task force.

There are not any. That is the problem.

Comment on this

Some months ago after much begging and pleading, the Taoiseach announced a task force for Tipperary town, its environs and west Tipperary. Following on from that the Minister of State, Deputy English, appointed Ms Alison Harvey as an independent chairperson. The people in Tipperary were delighted about that. However, the process has come to a stop. No progress has been made. Many concerns have been expressed about whether Ms Harvey has been allocated a budget or if she is undertaking the role, and the people of Tipperary are bewildered. We need this task force up and running. We need collaboration from all the groups which are ready, willing and able to collaborate and interested in doing so. We need this to be funded by the Minister. I note the Minister, Deputy Ring, has his ear cocked listening. He needs to ensure it is funded. There is no point in making promises. We need a proper task force to examine this area and the whole N24 project, as we had in Westport some years ago, of which the Minister will be well aware. We need Ms Harvey to be in place, engaging with and listening to the people, and moving forward with the task force so that we can help redress the serious deficit in Tipperary town and district.

Comment on this
Eoghan Murphy Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Fine Gael

I thank the Deputy for his question. Much urgency has been taken on addressing this issue. The Deputy will be aware of that and the Taoiseach has taken a personal interest in it as well. The Minister of State, Deputy English, is very much involved. Ms Harvey, who has been appointed, is an expert in this area. There is no lack of funding available; €20 million has been made available to Tipperary in the past year between the Minister, Deputy Ring's, Department and my own. A number of additional schemes can be utilised by this task force when it knows what the schemes to be used are and how to use them best. Considerable work is happening. We need to allow the process to be completed before we know what the outcomes will be.

Comment on this