Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The urban regeneration and development fund certainly is a noble undertaking. Two minutes of her statement were taken up with outlining what it involves. That is not the Minister of State's fault; she is merely the messenger. I want to know when the Iveagh Markets building will be of use to the people of Dublin rather than standing there unused. The problem is that it has stood empty for decades and was allowed to deteriorate. It is fantastic that the building is to be stabilised and maintained. The works the Minister of State outlined certainly are urgent. However, we need to move on and we need a plan. The cost of the restoration of the market is €23 million. She said that it is a €12 million project, yet the Minister announced an allocation of €9 million. There is a shortfall. I presume it is being paid by Dublin County Council, and so it should because the neglect was caused under its oversight. It occurred on the council's watch. Addressing that neglect is a matter of urgency and it needs to be done immediately.