10. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if Dundalk and Drogheda will be included in the Finance Act 2024 to ensure that the living cities initiative can commence in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57738/25]
Sentiment score: 0.13
As it is my first time to address and put a question to the Tánaiste as Minister for Finance, I wish him very well in his new role. On budget day, Dundalk and Drogheda were cited as two of the towns that will be part of the new living cities initiative. Will the Tánaiste be so kind as to outline the next steps and how we will get it up and running in 2026?
Sentiment score: 0.43
When two of the five towns identified are Dundalk and Drogheda in such a wee county, the Tánaiste can obviously imagine that the wee county is jumping for joy because we see this as a vote of confidence in the county in the famous, or infamous, M1 corridor. Drogheda and Dundalk have huge potential but let us acknowledge the fact that we have a lot of underutilised and older buildings - a lot of stock that can be regenerated. When these maps are sent in by the local authority, and I have it on good authority - pardon the pun - that Louth is ready to submit these maps to the Department for review, I ask that we take into consideration not the here and now, not a restrictive town centre with a couple of streets here and there, but the expansion out towards the settlement boundaries, and that we are planning for today but also for tomorrow and for ten years. Let us make the most of this initiative and give the businesses and the communities the possibility of reaping the benefits of such an initiative.
Sentiment score: 0.48
This is not only about bricks and mortar. This is about restoring vibrancy and safety. Let us not undervalue the fact that when we get our town centres regenerated, working again and bustling, there will be the important effect of passive surveillance. People feel safer on the streets, but also at night-time, when you have people living above the shop. There is an added layer of security. When I say it is not only about bricks and mortar, it is about reviving communities. It is about faith and confidence in the local economy. Drogheda and Dundalk have huge potential. A lot of it has been undervalued in Drogheda. We have to keep going, but I am also very positive about the number of initiatives that have been taken over the last 12 months: the commitment from the ESB, the commitment from Uisce Éireann, and phases 1 and 2 of the port area northern cross route, PANCR, about to get going. I sincerely hope that phases 3 and 4 will receive the Government funding they need.
Sentiment score: 0.39
I could not but help but put my hand to ask a further question when I heard a Deputy talk about something being fundamentally Irish. When I hear the words "whiskey" and "beer", I am automatically reminded of the farmers and tillage farmers in particular. While I know this is a request that will require cross-consultation with the Minister for Finance, the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister for enterprise, Deputy Peter Burke, we have to look at an incentive or a tax regime that will allow tillage farmers to produce and provide the grains necessary to the brewery system. We cannot have whiskey and beer produced in Ireland that is primarily made from imported grain. We have find an incentive so that we can use Irish grains in Irish whiskey. A solution has been found in Scotland. There is a case for it. I would love a further opportunity to discuss this with the Tánaiste and the Ministers for agriculture and enterprise. It is possible. It would be good for the industry, both the brewers and the tillage farmers.
Sentiment score: 0.28