Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It has considerable potential and has grown and expanded significantly over the past two decades. There has been significant investment in the town. I appreciate the Deputy acknowledging the investment in the university hospital. As far back as my time as Minister for Health, we invested significantly in Clonmel University Hospital.

There is a challenge here on which we need to reflect. The country has expanded economically and the population has grown. The nature of urban life is changing and the mix that went into towns in previous times may not be the mix for current times. There may be a need for more substantial residential accommodation in town centres than has been the norm in the past. That applies to the cities as well as the towns.

I agree with the Deputy. I opposed the abolition of town and borough councils from a democratic point of view, which was my big position at the time, but I also opposed the loss of that idea of the community coming together. An urban council was the community coming together in an elected format. The antennae of such councils were sharp in terms of the needs of the town and they came forward with cohesive plans. In my own county, I think of towns such as Kinsale and Clonakilty, which had good urban councils that transformed their experience. That was true across the country and I accept the Deputy's perspective on that point.

There are great organisations and clubs in Clonmel. There is a lot going for Clonmel and it has many strengths. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, recently opened Haven House, which offers crisis resolutions and supports for those with mental health issues, at a cost of €4 million.

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