An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-16
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Linda Nelson Murray (FG), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I want to bring up two issues. One is about the agricultural shows we are seeing now across our counties. I would like to say a big thank you to the Department of rural and community affairs for the money that is provided to these shows. I think approximately €1 million is dished out to about 126 different agricultural shows around the country, and they get between €4,200 and €11,400 each. I was at Ballivor Horse Show at the weekend. It was my second year going to it. I went to it last year as well. It really is value for money. These agricultural shows are really important in these rural communities. It was absolutely packed. I entered my two dogs into the dog show. They did not win or even get the waggy tail prize. It was very disappointing. Seriously, though, the shows are brilliant. I am heading to Trim Haymaking Festival next weekend as well. I know there is €1 million distributed annually but there can always be room for more, especially for these shows that are so important to rural communities. I congratulate everybody involved in the Ballivor show. It went on for two days. I wish the best of luck to the people in the Trim haymaking show this weekend.
The second issue I want to mention is the housing infrastructure investment fund for my county. I think every county got massive news today, but in Meath, we got five projects over the line, to the value of about €70 million. Together, all the projects will directly unlock capacity for about 2,275 homes and indirectly support a further 2,705, so roughly 4,980 homes in total. There is an €862 million budget nationally, and it is fantastic to see this. The infrastructure is needed there when it comes to water, the ESB and everything that surrounds helping to get these houses built and to unlock the lands and the surrounding areas by building bridges and whatever else needs to be done. I very much welcome this. Today is a very positive day for all the counties.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:03+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-16