Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I thank the witnesses. Sticking with the net amounts for a moment, the figures we have - let us assume we are net recipients - are in aggregate. Do the witnesses have analyses for the various pots of European money? Ms Campbell mentioned earlier that a lot of the pots are open for competitive tender. In Wicklow I am involved in drawing up strategic plans, seeking investment and a variety of areas where there might be European money. One of the things I am quite struck by - academic colleagues have told me the same for their research in universities - is that a large amount of money is available but in certain areas in this country we are probably not getting as much of it as we could because we do not know about it. In academia, when one finds out about the various European pots of money it is fantastic because one knows where to go, but many people do not know. Similarly, in Wicklow, I found someone who knew about European pots of money. It turns out that money is available and we are applying for it. However, it is certainly not something that is uppermost in the minds of those involved in community groups seeking funding. Has any analysis been done on how good we are at getting access to the various pots, as opposed to the aggregate figure where we appear to be net beneficiaries?