Tipperary task force
Aengus Ó Snodaigh asks what agencies have been assigned to the task force arising from the March4Tipp campaign and how it will implement its findings. The Minister says the Government backs the initiative, an expert is leading it, and the necessary funding streams and agencies are available.
On behalf of my party, I want to express our condolences on the passing of former Deputy for the Meath constituency and Senator, Michael Lynch, who passed away earlier today.
When I was in County Tipperary recently, I was reminded that a series of marches and protests organised by the March4Tipp campaign last year culminated in the appointment of Alison Harvey as the head of a task force. What agencies, particularly State agencies, have been assigned to the task force to help it to implement the findings of the communities and to ensure the task force develops a sustainable economy, in line with the demands of March4Tipp? While I hope the task force will be successful, that will not happen unless the State gets behind it.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government is fully behind this important initiative, which we have undertaken with local stakeholders. That is why we have appointed an expert to lead this piece of work. All the different funding streams and agencies that are needed to make this initiative happen and work are available to the task force, which is currently doing this piece of work and reporting to the Minister of State, Deputy English. When we have further updates, we will be able to provide them to the House.