Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that project teams have been established. While the local teams are doing well in keeping the public informed, we should consider drawing up a medium- to long-term plan regarding future services. Certainly, the staff have shown an amazing resilience in adapting. At a time when the political and wider community can be quite critical of civil and public servants, we must mature as a nation and acknowledge the good things as well. The staff working on this project are rising to the challenge. It is important that people in the civil and public service who are doing good work and meeting the professional needs and challenges of their work are acknowledged. We do not do enough of that as politicians or give that feedback. We should be empowering people, and saying "well done" is something they appreciate.

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