Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The answer is very simple. We are giving these towns funding to allow them to plan their futures. It will not be the local authority or the Department of Rural and Community Development, but the towns. I believe Boyle is in the area the Deputy represents. The people in Boyle are very happy. They welcome the €100,000 pilot scheme because for the first time they will be able to plan their futures. They will be able to identify what Boyle needs and not what the Government thinks Boyle needs. The same applies to Callan, Ballinrobe, Banagher, Castleblayney and Cappoquin. We picked these towns. If they come back to us with proposals and solutions, we will look at them. We will look at all the existing schemes we have. In the case of Boyle, the funding will tie in to the overall plan the people have for that town. They are delighted they were included in the pilot scheme. They are happy that they can plan for the future.

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