Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I appreciate the opportunity to get an update on these really important projects. Last year, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced an allocation of a whopping €11 million for Castlebar for two key projects. One is the redevelopment of what we call the historic town core of Castlebar, including an upgrading of the old post office, the mall area and Daly's Hotel. It is really the centrepiece of Castlebar and it is very important, with much history attached to the area. There is over €8 million allocated to that specific project. The second project is very close to my heart and it involves the redevelopment of Castlebar Military Barracks. I started my military career in the FCA in Castlebar Military Barracks many years ago when I was only a teenager. That place in Castlebar town means a lot to people. Many a youngster passed through those gates and came out a much more well-rounded and developed individual heading off into the big world.

These two areas of Castlebar are centrally located and getting that amount of money for redevelopment had the aim, really, of improving the public realm in the area and making it a more attractive place to visit, live, work and invest. Ultimately, it is about benefiting the people of Castlebar and surrounding areas. Castlebar is the county town of Mayo. Anything that benefits Castlebar extends its reach beyond the town to the rest of the county. This is very important work.

This was announced last year and the citizens are asking, correctly, at what stage are these projects. There is much recognition and admiration for the work that Mayo County Council has done in putting together the application. As we all know, funding like this is not allocated without a substantial, worthwhile and well-drafted application from the local authority. In that context, I commend the work of the team in Mayo County Council. Citizens are asking for an update on the work nonetheless. Has money been drawn down or when will that happen? What stage of development are these projects at and when will we see the projects delivered for the people of Castlebar and Mayo?

I ask this in the context of inflation and rising costs of building materials and labour. There is also a difficulty in getting tradespeople, especially when we are looking at restoring old buildings. I think particularly of Castlebar Military Barracks, and a specialist expertise would be required to carry out those types of work to the standard we all expect to see. It would be good to get an update from the Department on the overall project. Does the Minister of State foresee any potential difficulties or challenges? It would be remiss of me not to put on record that if there are to be escalating costs for the local authority, the Department should work with that local authority in Castlebar to try to bridge the gap between what the estimated cost of the work was a number of years ago against a realistic price today. As we all know, whether it is a small garage, house or a significant building project, everybody is feeling that pinch.

I reiterate that these are very important projects for Castlebar and Mayo. That €11 million might not seem like much if we stood in Dublin city centre but in Mayo and its county town of Castlebar, it is a huge amount of money and significant delivery for the town. It is the biggest allocation of funding we have seen in a very long time. I place on record my thanks to the Minister for allocating that funding and for working with the local authority to advance these really important projects.