'Huge loss to rural communities'

Minister Humphreys will not contest the next general election.

Her party colleague Cllr Carmel Brady from Cootehill described Minister Humphreys as "an outstanding friend and Minister."

She added: "Cavan and Monaghan have never seen the type of funding that was sourced by Heather.

"[It is a] Huge loss to every rural community in both counties and indeed throughout Ireland," she told The Anglo-Celt.

Minister Humphreys has been a TD in the constituency since 2011. She served as a member of Monaghan County Council before that.

Along with being the Deputy Leader of the Fine Gael party the local TD has held roles as Minister for Rural and Community Affairs and also the Minister for Social Protection.

There has been no confirmation regarding who will stand in her place in the upcoming general election. The expectation however is that the party HQ will search for a name to add to the ballot from within the county boundary.

Along with direction millions of euros worth of funding towards projects in counties Cavan and Monaghan, Deputy Humphreys, from her first day in the Dáil made the restoration of the Ulster Canal a priority. She spoke of her great pride to officially open the latest phase in Clones earlier this year.