Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this important matter. It is one on which the Minister of State, Deputy English, has been pressed locally and voiced his support. I thank my colleague, Deputy Shane Cassells, who has raised the matter regularly at the Committee of Public Accounts. The fact that Deputy Cassells has raised the matter at the PAC has put the whole subject into the minds of the people of County Meath. Certainly, many constituents have contacted me about it.

Many people have moved into County Meath. We still call people who moved there 20 years ago "new people". One of the first things they ask me having moved to places like Stamullin or Ashbourne is why the county has no parks department. They notice that there is a lower level of services in Meath than in Dublin. I suspect the Ceann Comhairle hears similar complaints from people in Kildare who have also made the move from Dublin.

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