STATE investment in a range of local facilities, including education and health services and roads, has been secured by the Independent Wicklow TD, Ms Mildred Fox, in return for her support for the incoming Fianna Fail/PDs coalition.
Funding for a new secondary school for north Wicklow and for the upgrading of the N81 through west Wicklow, between Blessington and Carlow, are among key projects which will benefit from the deal.
In an interview in today's Wicklow People, Ms Fox (26) says she reached agreement on her support for a new government during a series of meetings with the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern.
Aspects of the deal are expected to be announced at a press conference today.
Ms Fox is quoted as saying of the recently published Fianna Fail/PDs Programme for Government: "There were many things which I actively welcomed and at the same time there was nothing which I couldn't live with."
She dismissed rumours of divisions in the Independent organisation over the deal and denied that members with previous Fine Gael affiliations were unhappy with the arrangements.
Included in the package to be put forward by Ms Fox is a service for farmers in east Wicklow, believed to be a new district veterinary office, and a subcouncil office for Wicklow County Council in Blessington.
Ms Fox is also reported to have received a commitment on the £80,000 balance of funding that is required by the Friends of St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, to reach the £250,000 needed to buy CAT scan equipment.