Ms Dee Ryan:

I thank the Deputy and I appreciate the question. I believe that we would have to allow the mayor to prioritise projects and prioritise areas of focus within his or her programme for local government, and, consequently, within the delivery of the annual budget. This is why it is very important that we get the additional means. This should be seen as additional benefit for the Limerick city and county, and certainly not in any way a threat to existing funding, which is rightly allocated and appropriated by existing councils. I would say "No", I do not believe it should be apportioned in a blanket manner. We must use it in a targeted way to drive the greatest impact for the whole of the county.