Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group I too wish to be associated with the good wishes and thanks to the staff and your good self, a Cheann Comhairle, as well as to all the Members and the press for their efforts during the past year. I wish them all a happy, peaceful and holy Christmas.

I acknowledge the support of the Taoiseach in principle for the creation of a taskforce for Tipperary town and area. The jobs for Tipp group and I have suggested consideration of an N24 corridor similar to the Atlantic corridor. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, will be aware of that project as well as the task force for Westport. We are hoping to get this developed and to develop the infrastructure to attract Irish and multinational investment. We also want to create jobs and wealth in vibrant communities. The modus operandiof jobs for Tipp and myself is to get people, enterprises and communities pulling together in pursuit of common goals. We hope we can do that. Those involved are concerned in case it becomes a task force similar to the task forces for Inchicore or Blanchardstown. They are different places, as the Taoiseach is aware, especially with the investment in Dublin. We would appreciate consideration of a N24 corridor similar to the Atlantic corridor, including the towns, especially Tipperary town, along the corridor.

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