Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that the most emphasis has been placed on the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit. However, even if there is a deal, we need to recognise that we are in a very precarious situation, particularly people living in the Border regions. Many of those communities depend on the social economy. An awful lot of people do not have access to high-level employment with very high salaries. They live in communities where that kind of infrastructure is not in place and many of them depend on the community creating the jobs to sustain itself. To make that happen, we need to see a renewed emphasis on getting more funding in place for them. I recognise that the Department is running workshops to show people how they can apply for funding for community projects. This is welcome and good. There is one in Donegal in a couple of weeks. However, we need to see more money in place. The Minister talked about places that are not spending the money as rapidly as he would like or getting through things as quickly. Certainly the Border communities and the regions around the whole Border area have been very much to the fore in making sure they use any funding to which they have access and that they use it appropriately. I urge the Minister to put more money in place and to work with those communities to ensure they can deliver.

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