Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Funding last year and in the previous couple of years was welcome to mark the 60th anniversary of the Tidy Towns competition. I come from a village, Rathvilly in Carlow, which has the honour of winning the Tidy Towns competition on three occasions in the early years - 1961, 1963 and 1968. Considerable effort has been made in recent years in my community, as in every other community, to try to return to former glory. It is important that communities are made aware of any potential funding early in the year in order that they can plan and develop whatever projects they may have. While funding is always welcome, if it is received mid-summer, it is too late because much work will have been done to get ready for the visit of the judges in June, July or August.

It has been indicated that funding may be made available. When exactly does the Minister of State expect that to happen, given that plans need to be put in place at this stage of the year in order that communities can have a fair idea of what to expect later in the year?

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