Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It was very informative. We had Ms Coughlan at a meeting last week, which raised many questions as well. I certainly do not think the number of assemblies should be reduced. If anything, it should be increased. The problems in the north west are totally different from the problems in Cork or Kerry or other such areas. It is very important that we keep the number of assemblies as they are. I recognise the good work being done. People are right to say, as regards local authority members, that the information on the ground is not getting out there as to the work of the assemblies. That is very important. One suggestion may be that a member of the assembly attend the monthly council meetings. I know there is not an assembly member in every county, but at least if it could be covered, there would be local press and more people hearing about what is happening. It would be very important to do that because it is not known, quite honestly. People do not know what is happening out there in relation to the regional assemblies.

As regards the assemblies preparing for the next EU funding cycle post 2027, what emerging priorities or challenges do the witnesses foresee for Ireland's regions? The reason I raise that is because last week, when we met members of the Committee of the Regions, it came up that the CAP funding going forward could be competing against other funding within the cohesion funds. That would be a very bad idea. I would not agree with that at all. We should project that CAP funding because it is keeping family farms alive and keeping people on the land. If anything happened to that or if it were reduced, it would have serious consequences for the north west in particular and, I am sure, for other areas as well.