Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is starting. We have already taken cuts and we are going to take more. I know of an office that took a €10,000 cut and expects the same again. As subcontractors, we have to provide the premises, insurance, heat, light and rates. If one has to pay a second member of staff, one must pay USC etc. and try to make a living out of that. That is what we face. If we want to look after rural Ireland and our towns and villages, this is a small amount of money to invest. Over the last two weeks, we had announcements from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, of probably €400 million to €500 million in the urban regeneration fund to invest in rural towns and villages. This is another way to do that.