Varadkar came to listen not tell – Burke

The Taoiseach came to Ballinrobe and Glencorrib to listen and see for himself the type of work going on in rural communities, according to local Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke.

Leo Varadkar met with community groups and organisations on his visit to south Mayo and north Galway last Thursday. During the gtour, he heard about projects taking place or in the pipeline for both Ballinrobe and Glencorrib.

Ballinrobe-based Cllr Burke said he was delighted to welcome Leo Varadkar to south Mayo and show him around the town and to meet local people and businesses.

Cllr Burke told The Mayo News that he hopes Taoiseach Varadkar will bring the feedback he received from local people back to Government buildings.

“In fairness he was there as a listener rather than telling the people what they could or could not do. He was there to listen and make adjustments on things they are not getting totally right and maybe things that are not working.That is what the government is there for.

“With our TDs and ministers, they should listen to the people and feed back that information into the system through the Civil Service so we get the type of projects that are supported and people want and not what people in offices in Dublin believe is right for the country. You cannot beat going into the towns and villages and finding out what the people require and how you can help them,” he said.

Ballinrobe Town Hall

ONE of the projects Mr Varadkar heard about was the development of Ballinrobe Town Hall,  which recently benefited from a €4.6 million funding allocation from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Cllr Burke explained that construction work is expected to start in 2024, and said the Taoiseach was enthusiastic about it.

“The Taoiseach was delighted that this is a town centre project that will bring life back into the centre of the town,” he said. “It will be a town hall, but there will also be a café, restaurant, bar and nine-bedroom accommodation. It is a very attractive opportunity for the community, but it is also positive, from the Government’s point of view, that the money will have a big impact in the town centre – that is the type of project the Government is looking for,” he said.

Dereliction

WHILE in Ballinrobe, Mr Varadkar also visited a former derelict building that has been newly refurbished.

“It is the first house refurbished on Main Street for a good number of years, and a couple have moved in to live in it. That was very positive to show the Taoiseach. There is another one on Glebe Street which was also completed which was in very poor condition to say the least.

“I am told by the County Council office that there is great interest from Ballinrobe in the new grants for repairing houses, and that is all positive. In Ballinrobe I would be surprised if you do not see the dereliction rate cut by 50 percent in the next 12 to 18 months,” he claimed.