John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments of my colleague Senator Lombard on the issues around the knackeries dispute. It is a big challenge throughout rural Ireland at the moment. It urgently needs to be addressed.

I have raised the large-scale sports infrastructure fund on the Order of Business and during a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, a couple of weeks ago in this Chamber. This morning's announcement that €3.3 million is being allocated from the fund to the Waterford GAA county board for the redevelopment of Walsh Park is really positive. In all of my engagements I asked for organisations that drove on with such projects - in the case of the Waterford county board, it cut its cloth to its measure and delivered phase 1 of the Walsh Park redevelopment - not to be penalised for going ahead with projects. Thankfully, that is the position the Government took up. The allocation of €3.3 million means the county board will be able to proceed with phase 2. That is right and proper because there are other organisations that have not proceeded with any of their projects for a variety of reasons. Those that actually went on with their developments need to be encouraged. What could be done with funding in 2020, when the initial €3.7 million was provided, was very different from what can be achieved in 2023. However, the Waterford county board is to be commended on delivering phase 1 . We look forward to seeing progress on phase 2 with the allocation of €3.3 million.