Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I also welcome the additional money for the LIS but agree with the Chairman that there is a massive backlog, including in County Clare. I ask the Minister to ensure that the allocations are made in the early part of the year, in spring.

Sometimes they are left to the end and it creates a difficulty. The previous committee, which I chaired, looked at this issue and recommended that the then Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport would also come to the table and, perhaps, provide matched funding of an additional €10 million. The local authorities should also come to the table and put money upfront. There could be a more comprehensive scheme and a great deal more could be done with that allocation. Perhaps it is something the Minister could raise again. Chairman, I ask that the committee correspond with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in that regard.