Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that update on Loughrea town hall. There is significant potential here to develop something truly remarkable - a 156-seat theatre, an arts centre and a business incubation - that will serve not alone the needs of Loughrea but, indeed, the whole of east Galway. I am very encouraged to hear that the Minister's officials are doing an assessment of that proposal right now.

In terms of towns nationally, what sort of work does the Minister envisage happening in encouraging people to live over the shop? Loughrea Chamber of Commerce in recent years did a survey of the main street of Loughrea which during the day is an exceptionally active and vibrant place but is rendered somewhat still and silent at nighttime. I am wondering what will we do to develop the potential of those significant number of units that exist over every shop in every town in Ireland.

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