Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is my first opportunity to speak in the House. I want to comment on a tragic event that happened in my community over the past few days where we lost our icon, the great Galway hurler Michael Coleman. I convey my sympathies to his wife, Mary, his son, Dara, and his daughter, Sinéad, and the wider Coleman family. They have given so much to Galway and to hurling.

If you drive around east Galway, you will see that many farm buildings have been devastated. Some of these are quite historic and are included in the listed building category. As we all know, many of them are used to house cattle, sheep and other animals at this time of year. Some are beyond repair. I am anxious to understand whether the Government has any plan to offer some supports or grant assistance to bring those back into meaningful use again, by way of restoration, preservation or refurbishment.

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