Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is my first time to address the Dáil and I am delighted to be here as an elected Member representing County Offaly. As we know, this does not happen without the hard work of a lot of people because nobody can do this on their own. I want to put on the record of the Dáil my sincere thanks to my family, friends, fellow party members, my two directors of election, Peter Waters and my brother Matt, and, of course, the faithful people of our proud county of Offaly for the trust they have put in me. I will do everything I can to make Offaly are a great place to work, rest and raise a family.

When I look at the programme for Government I see ambition. I see a pathway to the future for all of our country, young and old. I see a special emphasis on disabilities. While campaigning I highlighted that Offaly School of Special Education needed a physical therapist reinstated. I am delighted that as part of the programme for Government we will have these therapists reinstated throughout the country. We need this done sooner rather than later.

When campaigning, I also met local carers, most of them mothers. I was very moved by their stories of accessing services for their children. I am delighted to see the Government will take out means-testing for the carer's payment during its lifetime. We need to do more for these families. We need to remove the red tape they encounter on a daily basis as they try to access services. This is something that would make their lives much easier. They are only trying to access services to which they are entitled.

Significant investment in roads throughout the country is part of the programme. The N52 link road needs to be delivered and needs to be put back on the roads programme soon. Parents and children face a daily danger navigating the high road junction in Durrow on their way to school and creche, while other residents risk similar hazards going to mass each day. The Durrow High Cross Committee is eager to build an interpretive centre highlighting the area's rich monastic history, including St. Columcille, the Book of Durrow, the abbey and the history attached to the area but this will be stalled until the new link road has been constructed. We need this road for the growth of business in Tullamore. This involves more than 19,000 traffic movements per day, which is way over capacity and growing at 5% per year. If the link road was put back in the roads programme tomorrow morning, it would take until 2032 to build, and that would be if there were no issues. This is the second time the road has got to the stage of a route being chosen. For value for money for the Exchequer and for the safety of the people and its users, will need this road now and not later.

I am delighted that as part of the programme for Government we will endeavour to have more than 50% of new foreign direct investment businesses in Ireland locating outside of Dublin and Cork. I recognise the good work IDA Ireland does. It is the leader in what it does throughout the world. The IDA Ireland park in Tullamore is full and we need a new park to be purchased and made ready for new companies. We also need parks in Birr and Edenderry so we can have our young people stay in Offaly and have jobs for them so they can live, rest and raise a family in our beautiful county, while attracting others to live there also.

Farming is the backbone of our country. We need to look after our farmers. We need to make sure we work with Europe to get the extension to the nitrates derogation. We need to make sure the farming products coming into Europe from South America under the Mercosur deal are produced to the same standard and adhere to the same legislation as the high-quality produce of our farmers. We need to make farming more attractive to young farmers so they can make it a lifetime career. I am happy to say the programme for Government has a lot to protect farming in Ireland.

I am honoured to be here to represent County Offaly. I promise to do everything I can to make our county a great place to work, rest and raise a family.

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