Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. I have been an advocate for the local authorities having a strategic policy committee on European affairs since I came into the Houses. Some local authorities are very good at drawing down money and there are those that are not at the races at all. Putting in place a European affairs team in each local authority is very important, not just the project officers, but the administrative team to support the project officer as well. That is very important.

We have come in here this morning and all we have heard are the words “millions and millions” and there is so much money out there. I thank the witnesses for coming in and thank The Wheel for the work it does in the voluntary and NGO sector, and I know it represents about 3,000 organisations.