Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The budget given to the authority was €9.7 million and it was seeking €10.265 million. The authority was essentially saying that it needed that additional funding. Obviously, as a new authority in its first year, does the Minister consider that this funding is sufficient for the authority to carry out its work?

I have other questions, one of which is in respect of InterTradeIreland, the cross-Border body set up under the Good Friday Agreement to promote trade, North and South, where there is no increase in its budget. Did it not look for an increase or was it just not given one?

My other question is that the Minister briefly mentioned Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, which has done great work in supporting craftspeople across Ireland, especially during the pandemic. The council is funded by the Minister’s Department. Over the past week,“Nationwide” carried much coverage of the council, where it was reviewed. I believe the Minister’s Department announced that the council’s funding grew in 2022-23. By what amount did that funding grow, how much is it is intended to grow in the coming years, and how much funding was allocated in 2022? If the Minister does not have these figures to hand, perhaps he might come back to me with these at a later point. The council serves over 3,500 clients, and as I have already said, “Nationwide” made a great report on its work. The council has two new shops at the airports promoting Irish products. Has the council been in touch with the Department in respect of engaging in more of that activity? This seems to be a great initiative for small craft businesses. Could we not spend more on that kind of activity as it supports local jobs?

My final question is highly parochial. I meet many foreign direct investment companies in Limerick, as well as many ordinary companies. They are all on the same page in saying that we need to deliver the Limerick northern distributor road. I do not expect the Minister to know every road in the country but the enterprise parks we have in Limerick at Castletroy and Dooradoyle are now full. The northern distributor road is crucial to opening up the land across the north side of Limerick city and of south-east Clare. I know we are talking here about the national development plan but has the Minister had any discussions with Chambers Ireland on this issue as everybody is in favour of this?