Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is oth liom go bhfuil an méid sin á rá ag an Aire Stáit. Ba mhaith liom cuid dá ráitis a lua. I want to specify part of the Minister of State's speech, where he said, "the identification of venues as part of the review process does not conclusively mean that the identified venues will close". This is reminiscent of the 35 health centres which I raised in relation to Kells. In that case the small print said inclusion on the list of 35 did not necessarily mean a health centre would actually be built. When I raised the question of the Kells health centre in the Seanad it became clear that there is little or no plan to build a health centre in Kells, despite that fact that it is on a list for progression.

I take a similar approach. I must assume that the fact Kells courthouse is on the list means the Government is washing its hands of the matter and passing it over to the Courts Service. When the Minister of State was in opposition he did not accept Ministers washing their hands of decisions and passing them over to State boards for final decision.

I am holding the Government to account and ask it to reconsider. Kells is a large market town covering a big district. The courthouse provides an economic benefit to the town. The Minister can close down all the courthouses he likes but it goes against the Government's jobs strategy. It will take people away from towns because there will be less reason to visit them. Kells does not have a new school, its health care centre has been cancelled and the town council is to be abolished. There will be nothing left.