Joe O'Reilly demands action on Virginia bypass, wastewater and housing

Could I at the outset join in the welcome to Councillor Paddy Mead who has just temporarily left us and the member of the Carter family, a very distinguished family in terms of public service in this country, and could I welcome my good friend Minister Emer Higgins to the House who certainly does not let the grass grow under our feet and will be acting on these recommendations. Now can I just start by listing out some critical projects in my own area and Minister I would be anxious that you make sure these are dealt with and brought to the relevant places. First of all the bypass of Virginia is in progress and I would just want a running commitment to that. I will quickly tell you a light-hearted story. A young man, a public representative in Kavanaugh distinguished one Councillor T.P. O'Reilly who celebrated his 50th birthday. He celebrated his 50th birthday a little while ago and just a couple of years ago but he was telling me that when his dad was a young man, when his dad was a young man he was refused planning permission to expand his retail outlet in Virginia on the grounds that would interfere with the route of the Virginia bypass. That's about 60 years ago so it's kind of timely that we'd give that sort of legs at the moment and keep it going. The next one I'd like to mention is the wastewater treatment plant in Virginia which is critical. Housing has ceased in that town, house building in the most beautiful town in Ireland. House building has ceased in the absence of this wastewater plant but to make sure that finishes. The east-west link is an important connection done Dr Sligo Road. The Rackenney Bridge realignment, Rackenney Bend realignment on that. Expensive but it needs funding and needs to go on. The N55 progress needs to continue on that minister and the Cavan North West Greenway. These are crucial projects. Now can I just say to you minister as well that the upgrade and maintenance of regional and local roads in Cavan have suffered hugely in terms of money. There's been a historic shortfall under investment in them and then we now have the that aggravated the historic under investment aggravated by inflation and by you know extra costs wages etc but inflation in general. Now I also want to mention it's a particular to rural communities this but it's very real for people trying to live in rural communities and I know the very idyllic place you live yourself minister from my senate travels and I know that you would have an appreciation out beyond that of where rural people want to access the house the LIS schemes are crucially important the local improvement schemes in rural areas and we need extra investment there and Cavan specifically has a huge waiting list going back about five six years so we need that dealt with. I just want to now turn to say that Minister Ciarán O'Donnell who my great regard for is doing great work in this area but Minister can I bring to your attention with the the demographic the ageing demographic etc we need more retirement villages in this country and indeed I invite you to look at one that's a classically good one in Mullagh in County Cavan but we need these little enclaves the sets of purpose-built housing in near services near the medical services etc for for older people and we need that and we have a good former minister in this department here in the room and then in the disability sector for people with special needs and disabled people need more of this housing in around the country purpose-built housing for them too so those are things that I would like to cite as well I my time is up but I didn't casually or likely list off those projects at home they're critical to a lot of people and please minister do see that they that they that they actually get a mention and get action thank you thank you