I thank Deputy Murphy. As he will be aware, Tipperary County Council declared the site an exempted development last January. As a result and following on from that, a contract was entered into with the Department. I believe it was last Monday that the local authority effectively gave into the judicial review applications and, as a result, the section 5 declaration will be quashed. My understanding is it will be quashed because the screening carried out was deficient. Obviously, the Department would need to consider the consequences of that court decision and, more imminently, Tipperary County Council must figure out what happens now, because it is no longer an exempted development. I will assess it within the Department and we will be discussing it with Tipperary County Council. I will revert to the Deputy on it.

Sentiment score: 0.07

I thank the Deputy for his question. Four weeks ago, I was in Limerick city and met the chamber and members of An Garda Síochána. It is true to say that requests were made for further Garda visibility on the ground. I brought that message back to the Garda Commissioner. There was also a request for a community van, which would be of assistance. I am trying to see, through the Department, whether that can be done. I will take on board what the Deputy said, discuss it further with the Garda Commissioner and try to ensure that the visible policing the Deputy wants is put in place.

Sentiment score: 0.17

Deputy Collins is correct in stating that yesterday I got approval from the Cabinet for the State to purchase Citywest for €148 million. The reason the Government approved that was because it was going to give effect to a saving of money from the point of view of the State. After four years, we will be making our money back in respect of it. We are spending far too much money renting private properties. As the Deputy knows, in the programme for Government, we have committed to buying or constructing State-owned accommodation where people will be able to live as opposed to us having to go out around communities, trying to rent places. There will be extensive engagement with the local community. I will speak to the local TDs. Obviously, it is an issue where there will have to be a lot of community engagement in respect of it. I think people are prepared to do that and the local community will be satisfied with the response they get from me and the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.38