Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The three speakers have made relevant points. Everybody has said that fantastic work has been done in Roscommon town. People were a little iffy at the start, as our guests know themselves. They are also aware of smaller towns, such as Elphin, in all counties that are desperately trying to get funding with the full support of their councils. That will come on stream because towns such as Elphin need funding. Elphin is a smaller town in our region and has suffered from dereliction. The people are trying to improve their town significantly. Small builders are now involved in that town and are repurposing buildings as living homes for people. That is what the centre of the town is like.

The ribbon development took the centre of the towns away. We now have to rebuild that and we all know that, and that is happening slowly but surely. Mr. Tiernan made the point that the Department can do so much and the council can do so much but we need businesses to come in and refocus in the towns. I really think people are coming back to their smaller shops and the services in their local town. That is crucial and that is important.