Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will concentrate on three things, though I would love to have time to do more. I raise the issue of the N24 which connects Limerick and Waterford and passes through several towns in Tipperary. This route is vital to the connectivity of the region and to regional development as it is the link between Shannon Airport and Rosslare Harbour. However, past Governments from both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have neglected the route. The lack of a bypass for Tipperary town means there is an unacceptable level of traffic in the town and the air pollution is twice the level recommended by the World Health Organization. The bypass was first mooted 40 years ago and it is a damning indictment of Ministers and Ministers of State down through the years that they have let this situation continue. Immediate work is needed to upgrade this route both to improve the living conditions of the people of Tipperary and ensure the necessary infrastructure for economic development, particularly post Brexit with any increased demand for shipping through Rosslare. Plans need to be enacted straight away to put in a ring road, as was suggested by Deputy Cahill, and not an inner relief road, which will not work.

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Cashel is a perfect example of where a ring road was built and then linked to the bypass afterwards. I would like to ask the Minister when a bypass will be provided for Tipperary town and if his Department will commit to providing the necessary investment to upgrade route in light of Brexit.

I want to raise the issue of community resource centres. While many aspects of their funding fall under the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the services provided by these centres play a key role in community development through the provision of supports for families, resources for those seeking jobs and supports for the more vulnerable members of our communities. I am involved in the resource centre in Cashel and I know how important it is to the community. Given the uncertainty around the country's economic future post Covid-19, I ask the Minister to outline what supports will be made available to these resource centres as many are already struggling with insignificant funding, yet are to the forefront in supporting people during the current crisis. I ask the Minister to ring-fence the current money available and commit to providing extra funding when required. I also ask that a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for community development be retained.

While I am sure the Minister shares the concerns expressed by me and everybody else about the ongoing anti-racism Black Lives Matter protests in America, support for the protesters from Irish people is also to be commended. Ireland, like every other country, has its own challenges in achieving equality and maximising social inclusion in our communities. Among such barriers is unsustainable accommodation for asylum seekers. This creates barriers to maximising the benefit of community development in Ireland. What measures is the Department taking to encourage the participation of minority groups in community development initiatives? I ask that communication be kept open with community groups. As Deputy Conway-Walsh stated, this is not just about those in direct provision. Several communities are being left behind because of decisions made by Government.

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