Tánaiste's whistlestop tour of Tipperary town kickstart s countdown to local elections
There were two high-profile Government Minister visits to Nenagh last week, with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheál Martin in town to canvass with the party’s new local election candidate Ryan O’Meara during a walkabout in which Mr Martin met locals and business people.
And Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne also met Mr O’Meara, along with representatives from Nenagh AFC and Nenagh Celtic, to highlight sports grants for Tipperary clubs.
The Fianna Fáil leader spent a number of hours in Nenagh town last Tuesday following the party’s think-in at Horse and Jockey, listening to the concerns of residents on various issues, both local and national.
“I was very pleased to welcome the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin to Nenagh. I want to ensure that the concerns of local people and the needs of the Nenagh - Borrisokane - Lower Ormond Local Electoral Area are brought to our most senior members of Government,” said Mr O’Meara.
Mr Martin was also accompanied by Deputy Jackie Cahill,.
Among the issues they discussed with local people were housing, the cost-of-living crisis, and anti-social behaviour.
“One of the main issues raised with me on the canvass was housing, particularly by young people that we met in Nenagh town centre. Tipperary County Council has an extensive social housing building programme ongoing, and it is very positive to see hundreds of houses being planned for in the Nenagh area, both social and private housing. I am also working with a number of individuals in relation to the vacant and derelict property grants and it is heartening to see these grants growing in popularity as we work to tackle dereliction and vacancy rates, particularly in town and village centres,” said Mr O’Meara.
“One of the biggest issues for the people of Nenagh at the moment is access to housing. My generation are finding it very difficult to move out of home and start a life for ourselves on our own. It is one of the driving factors behind why we are seeing so many of my generation travelling abroad and it is an area that I want to see renewed focus on, both in Nenagh and right across the Nenagh - Borrisokane - Lower Ormond LEA,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne was in Nenagh to meet a number of local clubs to discuss the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Grants.
Minister Byrne was accompanied by Deputy Cahill and Mr O’Meara as they met Nenagh Celtic FC and Nenagh Town AFC.
“I was pleased to welcome the Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne to Nenagh this week. The Minister is working closely with both Deputy Jackie Cahill and I in relation to the next round of funding for local clubs and organisations under the Sports Capital and Equipment Grants,” said Mr O’Meara.
He pointed out that the last round of funding under this scheme, administered by the then-Minister Jack Chambers, saw Tipperary clubs secure over €7m in funding for facilities and equipment.