Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last November, the Taoiseach told this House he was appointing a task force to deal with the serious issues of unemployment and degradation in Tipperary town. I have raised this with him since. I spoke to him in his office only two weeks ago. The task force was appointed in name only. Ms Alison Harvey, whom I wish well, was appointed and had initial meetings but not one red cent has been approved by the Government to support the task force and enable her to collaborate and engage with all the groups involved - Jobs for Tipp, The March for Tipp, TIRD and many other community groups. We have a new chief executive in the district in Tipperary town. We look forward to engaging with the council, all the groups and the newly elected councillors but one cannot proceed without money. The Taoiseach told me he would revert to me. I received a reply to a parliamentary question late last night from the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, who stated there are applications in. Reference was made to other issues that apply here, there and everywhere, as the

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, told me recently, but there is no dedicated fund so Ms Harvey and her team may do the proper investigative and collaborative work to which the people of Tipperary town and the rest of the area are entitled. The Taoiseach should put his money where his mouth is and please support this very valuable initiative. We do not want to be misled any further.

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