Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to hold up the meeting. I thank Mr. Parnell for the clarification he provided, but I know of groups that are in need of assistance. I refer to local community development associations. They have an office and co-ordinate everything in the town. For example, they support the town teams and act as an unofficial tourism office. They do printing for voluntary groups. In the case of some of the groups, it is not that they have been turned down for funding but, rather, that they never got a response when they sought funding for what they do. If the witnesses cannot clarify this issue now, they may come back to me on it. The CEO of Roscommon County Council spoke to me about this issue recently and outlined how important those local community development groups are in towns and villages. There is no issue with regard to the workers who operate the offices. The problems relate to lighting, heating and rental bills. I know it is a very difficult area. They are completely stranded in the context of funding. My fear and that of the CEO of Roscommon County Council is that we will lose these voluntary groups.. There may be a way around this issue. If the witnesses cannot give me an answer now, that is fine, but I would appreciate it if they were to come back to me on it.