Taskforce structure agreed, public meeting within weeks

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A public meeting regarding Tipperary town’s Taskforce will take place within the weeks to come.


The manner in which the taskforce will be structured has been finalised and approved.


Headed by Alison Harvey, the project will also involve an independent chairperson who has been appointed but whose identity is not being made public until all interested parties are notified.
That chairperson is understood to have an extensive background in community development and is well known within those circles.


It has also been decided that when the project team agrees upon an action plan, it will report directly to the Department of Planning and Urban Renewal as well as the Taoiseach – a condition the March4Tipp group demanded in return for its support.


Assurances have been given that the programme will fulfil its mandate even in the event of a change of ministers or government, while the project team will also have the assistance of all government department and agencies to implement its proposals.


A public meeting to raise awareness of the programme is expected to take place in October and Minister Damien English will appoint ‘key personnel’ to the taskforce, while public submissions will also be taken for other appointees.


Speaking on the matter this morning, Deputy Michael Lowry also said that the taskforce will have the mandate to look at the need for a by-pass of the town, while a €100,000 fund has also been approved to start, with further assistance available as needed.