Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I am accompanied by Deputy Robert Troy who has been pursuing this issue. I understand Longford County Council is waiting for a response from the Department on its proposal. As the Minister knows, the proposal was quite detailed. It was for the creation of five zones of development in Longford focusing on an education centre and tourism, arts and crafts facilities. Everybody would agree with the concept. The Department has a role in that it owns the property in question. Does the Minister envisage setting a deadline for the negotiations so everybody will know where he stands as soon as possible? Given the proposal's value to the community, can it be pursued in such a way that everybody is going in the one direction?

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