Rural Schemes
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-17
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Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel

I thank the Minister for his response. We were delighted to welcome him to Athy to the Shackleton Experience, which I know he found enthralling. It is fantastic and I would recommend everybody to come to visit it. Of course the Monasterevin town square regeneration project funding was very much welcomed, along with the funding allocations for Clane and Athgarvan.
I want to come back briefly to Moore Abbey. I believe this would be a vital regenerative source for the public in Monasterevin and would bring new life and new opportunities for people in the town with the public having access to it. This really is a jewel in the crown for Monasterevin and for County Kildare. The model of how we support people with intellectual disabilities has changed and the Muiríosa Foundation now has its administrative centre there.
However, I believe that it would and could be open to the suggestion of sharing this fabulous space with the public. I hope there will be an opportunity down the line but I would like to know whether the Minister would be open to something like this if it came to him.

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