Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, like other speakers, wish to express a míle buíochas to Noel Murphy. I thank him for all his work, service and support. I wish him well and a long, happy and healthy retirement. He deserves all of that.

I would like to welcome the commencement of works on phase 3 of the Royal Canal greenway in my own constituency in Dublin 7. From when I was first elected to the Dublin City Council, I supported the extension of the greenway and the improvement of pedestrian and cycle facilities. We already have a very high-quality route from Spencer Dock up to Newcomen Bridge, but phase 3 now will extend that greenway from Newcomen Bridge at North Strand, up through Ballybough, past the iconic Croke Park, up to Drumcondra and all the way up to Phibsborough at Crossguns Bridge. It is very welcome. Work has commenced and it will take two years. It will give us more than 2 km of extra greenway.

Finally, as we are approaching Easter, I want to wish everybody a happy Easter. I ask the Leader to urge the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, who has responsibility in the area of the Office of Public Works, to announce before Easter 2023 a date for the commencement of works for the 1916 national monument at 14-17 Moore Street. This is a project that the Government is committed to. The Government brought forward recommendations and allocated funding over two years ago. The time for works to commence is long past due. We have a fabulous proposal for a 1916 commemorative site. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to give us a date for the commencement of those works.