Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ennis 2040 is a great concept. It is about planning professionally for the future we want to see for Ennis, which is the capital town of Clare and sits between Limerick and Galway. It is a great initiative and I am very supportive of it. However, I am concerned by a proposal from the Ennis 2040 team to upgrade Abbey Street car park, in the process of which it is seeking to purchase properties on Francis Street and demolish them to make way for a supposedly temporary car park. Why on earth would one knock down houses in a housing crisis to build a temporary car park that is planned to be relocated in the future? In addition, my understanding is that a major retailer is on the brink of pulling out of considering the centre of Ennis as a location for a much-needed retail opportunity and investment, which the people of the town would welcome with open arms.

I call for a debate on designated activity companies, DACs, which are vehicles that are being set up by local authorities to implement certain projects. There is a DAC for the Cliffs of Moher Experience. I, as a public representative, do not know what the profits are for that facility every year. I do know that the road network surrounding the Cliffs of Moher centre badly needs to be upgraded, as do the footpaths and the public realm in the villages and towns surrounding it. We are in a situation in which millions of euro are going into the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre every year but no part of that funding is being put towards improving the road network, streetscape and public realm in the area.

Ennis 2040 is also managed by a DAC. As a public representative in County Clare, I have received no briefing on the proposals to demolish homes to facilitate the construction of a temporary car park. I ask for a debate in the House with the Minister to find out the Department's view and position on these DACs.