Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

The figures in terms of this scheme involve four local authorities, expenditure in excess of €0.25 million, 1,000 people expressing an interest, 33 of whom wanted to have another look and two who decided that they might go for approval. A marketing firm would not market a product on the basis of those figures? What are we talking about here? One thousandth of those who come across the scheme are interested in it or are gullible enough to buy into it.

The sums, the percentages and the marketing figures all show that this is a flawed product. It is time to scrap it. Will the Minister of State, in the context of the next budget, state that this is money badly spent, accept that we are in a hole, put down the shovel and let us get out?

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