Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To clarify something, there has been no downgrading of the north and western region by the European Commission from being a region in transition. This 2018 designation is based on GDP per capitain the region and has been used to calculate European funding allocations for 2021 to 2027. Separately, the European Parliament's committee on regional development categorised the north and west region as a lagging region using a range of other data such as productivity, education and skills. They are two completely different, separate things.

I agree with Deputy Ring. Sometimes projects are not delivered as quickly as we would like. We engage with local authorities. We have constant contact with them. We were in touch with them again last week. A new LEADER programme is coming out, which is currently open for expressions of interest. Proposals will come in in due course. Deputy Ring is right. I know Deputy Tóibín is a one-man band in here but he is a party leader.

He needs to get out and go around the country. If he went to County Mayo, he would see the Air Dome, which is some place. It is outside Claremorris and Deputy Ring knows it well. That was funded under the rural regeneration scheme. It is a fantastic project. Deputy Tóibín would be very welcome to come to Bailieborough where his party has a councillor. She will show him some of the wonderful investments that have happened in Bailieborough, particularly in the renovation of the old courthouse.

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