Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to strongly support the amendments. I join in the commendation and the affirmation of the voluntary environment groups. The tidy towns initiative was alluded to by Deputy McDonald. I applaud the voluntary work of the people involved in the Irish Environmental Network, Irish Wildlife Trust, golden miles organisations and other groups, including even community councils which undertake environmental projects in their area. They are proud of their homes, families, communities and their natural environment. That is commendable and should be supported. On that basis alone, I appeal to the Minister to consider these amendments. We are thinking of the voluntary groups that do this work to enhance their natural environment.

The issue raised by Deputy McDonald regarding the tourism industry is valid. There is no doubt the condition of our lakes, rivers, forests, walkways and so on and the diversity of our birds and animals contribute to the tourism product and make Ireland an attractive place to visit. While 80% of visitors have indicated to Bord Fáilte that this is a consideration, if they were questioned further, they would highlight that our green, natural environment with all its biodiversity is attractive to them. I commend that and I appeal to the Minister to bear that mind.

Our farm produce is marketed abroad on the basis of our greenness and this is also a consideration. Organic food is marketed at home and abroad on the basis of our green healthy natural environment while job creation is contingent on good environment conditions. It assists job creation efforts.

I read over parliamentary questions on this issue to which the Minister has replied previously. He is concerned to preserve the voluntary nature of activities at community level and not to finance major infrastructural projects, which are the remit of various Departments, through the national lottery. However, these amendments concern environmental activities in forests, parks and the maintenance of walkways, lakes, rivers and streams and the golden miles on roads preserved by communities. By giving these groups the opportunity to apply for lottery funding, given they would still be subject to the selection criteria and rigorous testing, we would endorse what they do and, in some instances, we could fund fine activity and enhance our environment. I appeal to the Minister to accept the validity of this argument. I congratulate the Members who tabled these worthy amendments.

I acknowledge that national lottery money is not intended to fund infrastructural projects but surely it could be used to fund the activities we have cited with the appropriate qualifying criteria in place. I look forward to the Minister's response.

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