Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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One of the problems I have with this is what happens if we allow everybody in on everything. I did a quick calculation for the six regions. I could divide my region into eight sub-regions that I can clearly identify. If I took the coast from Arklow to Youghal, I could find at least that number as well - west of Waterford Harbour, east of Waterford Harbour and so on. There is a little more than €400,000 for each of the six regions, and if we divide that by eight again we end up with €50,000 for each sub-region. We then set up all the superstructure for €50,000. I put the same argument up in the early days of the Leader programme. It is an awful lot of money for such a little thing, because €50,000 would not set up any kind of business. I am not blaming Mr. Keatinge. It is a pity they did not give this to the Leader companies and just let them get on with the job, as the structure is already there to administer the money to coastal communities. As the money was so small, I think the French got it right by allowing in only those areas where there would be more socioeconomic benefits. If a few hundred million euro was in question, it might be worth talking about, but €2.5 million is a waste of time.