Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too want to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the MacGowan family and to Victoria, on the death of fellow Tipperary man, Shane MacGowan. He was a wonderful artist and has left a very rich legacy.

The Tánaiste visited Ardfinnan more than two years ago, in September 2021, about Ardfinnan Bridge.

I salute Margaret Egan and the community council and the work they have done there, but it is a shame and a scandal to leave the bridge like that for eight years. The Minister of State, Jack Chambers, visited it in July of last year, but Ministers' visits and promises are no good. The people and the communities all around Ardfinnan, Clogheen, Ballyporeen and Mitchelstown and the surrounding hinterland need that bridge put back to a two-way system. The council is stubbornly refusing to do that and it has delayed and delayed. We have as much money spent on consultants' reports as would have repaired the bridge or built a new one. It is shocking that the communities have been left with half a bridge for eight years in this modern day and age and that people are not prepared to put the investment into it.

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