John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)

To pick up on that point, we need to start looking at this through the metric of climate benefit versus social and economic benefit. We will be fooling ourselves if we think that data centres will not be built. We would lose out to other EU member states. Why would we not want them here in Ireland? If it is good enough for an EU partner, it should be good enough for us. We need to sprinkle in a little bit of reality into this debate regarding data centres. If they were being built in a Third World country, I would understand but they are not. There are already examples where data centres have overlooked Ireland and are moving to Spain because it is simply taking too long. We need to get back into a space of being more agile, more responsive and more proactive in delivering in this space. We will see a social and economic impact as a result of our tardiness in it.

I want to discuss community benefit funds with the Minister. I do not mean to sound parochial, but we have made a lot of progress in Offaly in this space. One could argue that, through the process of buy-in, we have not utilised community benefit funds in the most effective way possible. I fully appreciate that we need to have a near neighbour scheme and that we should be supporting the likes of Tidy Towns, but we are missing an opportunity in how we can support strategic, lasting legacy projects through the likes of these benefit funds, where we essentially achieve buy-in as a result. Listening to some of the recent discussions, I know the Department has recently produced a rule book on community benefit schemes. Section 2.4(12) of the rule book states:

The Generator is not allowed to appoint any local or national public authority or body as the Fund Administrator according to Section 2.2(6) of this Rulebook. However, Fund Committees are permitted to seek advice from Local Authorities or other local or regional public bodies to devise their Fund Strategy.

Unless we have an umbrella group like that, we cannot achieve that strategic agreement. In the likes of Offaly, it could be roads on peat foundations. Other counties might have different priorities. Unless an umbrella organisation such as a local authority or local development groups are given the responsibility of co-ordinating with many of the contributors to this scheme, we will lose an opportunity. I have given the example of high-end, luxury GAA jerseys going around if we are not careful. We are creating a scenario where they are trying to spend the money and are failing to do so. We need to see the sporting facilities, the roads and community facilities. That has to be done through a collective strategic fund administered by a local authority or local development company.