Creating jobs and reviving town centres focus for 2021

New Year message from Minister Heather Humphreys...

From the outset, I want to acknowledge how much of a difficult year 2020 has been for so many families.

To those who suffered heartache, through the loss of a loved one, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

I know too how disappointing it is that people could not enjoy the kind of Christmas they wanted.

Our thoughts are also with all the workers losing their jobs through no fault of their own.

The Government will do everything it can to support workers and businesses who have been impacted by the decision to impose greater restrictions.

But in making these tough decisions, the Government had to prioritise the need to keep people safe and keep people alive.

So the best gift anyone can give this Christmas or at any time is to protect their loved ones and themselves from COVID-19 and to spare others from the grief that has affected so many families in Cavan and right across the country in 2020.

As we look towards the Spring time, we can and do so with a sense of hope.

That’s because a vaccination programme is already underway.

The Government is targeting to roll-out 40,000 vaccines every week.

As Minister, I want to thank all of the people who put their faith in me at the 2020 General Election – allowing me to deliver for County Cavan across two portfolios (Social Protection and Rural and Community Development).

I was glad to be able to secure hundreds of thousands of euro worth of investment through projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Clár programme, the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) and for our Tidy Towns groups.

I will endeavour to continue delivering on this investment in 2021, representing you, the people of Cavan, at the Cabinet table.

Early this year, I will publish a new rural strategy – setting out the Government’s vision for Rural Ireland’s recovery post Covid-19.

It will be forward looking, community-led and will represent a bottom up approach.

For I don’t agree with this idea of a rural-urban divide.

The strategy will place a real focus on creating jobs in rural communities, reviving town centres, as well as remote working.

In my Social Protection brief, I have worked extremely hard to ensure we supported people throughout that Pandemic and I will continue to do so once again into 2021.

Finally, a brief mention to Mickey Graham and the Cavan footballers.

During an extremely difficult year, you brought great joy to so many people across the country, ensuring a rebirth of Cavan football.

I want to wish all the readers and their families best wishes for 2021.