Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask for clarification on two points. The first is on the energy support scheme. We have TBESS announcements coming from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and from the Minister's Department.

I just want clarity, particularly for those clubs, community groups and voluntary associations that are going to be applying for this, about how streamlined the process is going to be. We all know these voluntary groups put a lot of time into these things off their own bat. I do not want them applying for one income stream when they should be applying for another more appropriate one. What are we doing to make sure these are coherent, that they work off each other, that we do not leave people to fall through the gaps, and that we do not end up by doubling or trebling the work that these community groups have to do?

My other point relates to the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. The Minister was with us in Waterford and west Waterford. She made the announcement of €115 million in Cappoquin. She also visited Tallow, Villierstown and Lismore and saw the great work that is happening in those communities. I could bring the Minister on a virtual tour of Waterford and name all of the other towns that I would like to see getting RRDF funding, and I am sure every member of the committee could do the same for their constituency. We are seeing a degree of policy coherence in terms of how we are tackling rural areas, with Our Rural Future, Town Centre First and Croí Conaithe, which should be successful in unlocking vacant properties in our town centres.

Can we put a rocket under the local authorities? I am quite happy to see the money going to LEADER, local improvement schemes and all the rest, but I really believe in the impact that RRDF funding can have within communities. I do not like the idea of underspending or of the money that should be spent on these types of projects being returned. Can we focus the minds of people in our local authorities to make sure they are spending this money when it is allocated?