Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raised an issue relating to the degeneration and neglect of Tipperary town with the Taoiseach some weeks ago. Some 5,000 people came onto the streets to march. As many as 3,000 marched last Saturday. The Taoiseach acknowledged that there were issues to be dealt with in Tipperary town and I asked him to look at setting up a task force. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste neglected the town, as did the Minister, Deputy Bruton, through the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, programme. The people are willing to collaborate and work on this. They are not talking down the town. They are willing to talk it up. There is great community spirit and energy there. Will the Taoiseach please set up a task force to look at this? They hope to get some of the money from Project Ireland 2040. While we got money for Kickham Barracks in Clonmel, which the Government closed, and in Thurles, which we appreciate, Tipperary town and west Tipperary have been neglected. Will the Taoiseach please ask his Ministers to set up a task force to examine it and meet a deputation, trying to work with the people of Tipperary instead of having Fine Gael candidates talk about all they are doing for Tipperary? Nothing is happening there. I ask for a task force to look at the issues and to try to work positively in Tipperary town.

See this speech in context