Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There has been a new mapping exercise and a profiling that gives us additional information, acknowledging the level of disadvantage in County Laois. The Deputy has pointed to the fact that applications have been made. I am trying to indicate the support of my Department to ensure successful applications can be made in the future. A general amount of money is made available and we then have to go through processes to identify the best way to use it and for the Department to be assured that that will be the case. It is my understanding that later this week my Department, with the Centre for Effective Services, will provide two-day training for staff in all ETB areas in area profiling, the prioritising of needs and, on that basis, the amount of money one should seek. The Centre for Effective Services will provide a training workshop in that regard. I think staff from the Laois-Offaly ETB will attend.

See this speech in context