Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I saw in correspondence relating to the Carmichael Centre that it was trying to put in place a replacement system. We also need to get a reply from the Department regarding the rural regeneration and development fund. There is a huge differential in what has been received by counties. For example, County Mayo put in an application for a total of 13 approved projects and received €30 million. County Laois put in an application for 18, was approved for four and received €3.9 million. County Offaly put in an application for 18, was approved for five and received €3.8 million. If members have other examples they want to raise in relation to the funding received by counties, please do so. The table on page 3 of the correspondence shows the differences, which are stark. Laois and Offaly submitted 18 projects each and they received €3.9 million and €3.8 million, respectively. County Mayo submitted 30, with only 13 being approved but they received €30 million. I am not trying to take away from Mayo because it is a large rural county with many challenges. However, we need clarity from the Department on the huge variation in the allocation. Were the applications from Laois and Offaly deficient or was information missing? By the way, Deputy McAuliffe should know that Dublin did not get anything under the fund.