Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Members will have to excuse my ignorance, but I need an explanation of what a CPH unit is. If it is giving rise to increased energy bills at the National Aquatic Centre, how will it continue into the future? On timely drawdowns by sporting bodies, I know of sporting organisations that were allocated national lottery money but were never able to draw it down. Would it not be better to give them a much more realistic drawdown period and if they cannot draw down the money, it then goes back into the pot? There is no point in sitting on money like that for years on end. Perhaps we should consider some kind of amnesty for organisations that will not be able draw down at the end of that period.

Perhaps the Minister of State could give us an overview of Ireland's future public transport. It is fast becoming a difficult situation for those in rural areas. As a result of motorways, there are large parts of rural areas not being serviced by public transport. We are all aware of rural isolation, and I need not go into it here. There is the loss of the post office and the pub, and now the bus as well. It is an issue about which I have considerable concern.