National Economic and Social Council
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-17
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

Deputy McCormack said Offaly is leading the way. It is a powerful set of statistics. Everybody in the House is probably not aware of the degree to which Offaly is becoming a powerhouse. Bord na Móna is a big factor here. We will have further developments on that front, and investments.
It is time that foreign direct investment and IDA Ireland looked at what Offaly has to offer. Contrary to what Deputy Paul Murphy is saying, there is real potential for energy parks and an alternative new economy with Bord na Móna as a catalyst and, as a significant State agency, to leverage its land assets and what it has to try to generate a new economy and new jobs for Offaly more generally. This is something that is potentially very positive and we should keep at it.
Deputy O'Meara raised the rural house guidelines. I have been pressing the Minister in that regard. I said earlier that unit in that Department has a lot on, but the rural house guidelines are very important. I will look at the development levies issue. The more important thing is to get the guidelines to enable people to build on their land. There is a lot better technology nowadays in terms of how to deal with wastewater, etc.
Deputy Ó Murchú also raised the cost of disability. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, is working on that and he will have proposals for the next budget in that respect. A lot of detailed work has to happen on this; it is not simple.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:38+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-17