Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that good work has been done since 2014, particularly along the Mullet peninsula, in strengthening roads and raising bridges. This is directly related to Belmullet town and I will encourage Mayo County Council to submit an application for a minor works grant and I assume, from the Minister of State's remarks, any such application will be given a good hearing in his Department.

Is ceantar Gaeltachta é freisin. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil toradh an-mhaith i gceist le haghaidh na daoine atá ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht. Tá deacrachtaí i gceist dóibh siúd a chónaíonn sa Ghaeltacht. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtabharfar gach tacaíocht dóibh siúd atá ina gcónaí in Eachléim agus atá ag coimeád an Ghaeltacht agus an teanga beo.

The Departments of the Minister of State and of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, need to look at the issue of erosion. Money is being allocated for erosion but because local authorities do not have the matching funding necessary, it is not being spent. There is constantly an underspend in the erosion budget in local authorities. Meanwhile, our Atlantic coast is changing in front of our eyes. Our natural defences against floods are being weakened and there needs to be a very serious discussion within the Minister of State's Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment about how we protect our natural coastal defences in a stronger way.

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