Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is a reluctance to apply for the scheme really the problem if only 10% of the total fund has been drawn down? It is a very low figure. The Government allocated €300 million for the future growth loan scheme, a long-term scheme for farmers, fishermen and food businesses that was announced in October 2017. It has taken 18 months for the scheme to open. Does the Minister agree the Government has been very slow in reacting to the Brexit fiasco? I question the Minister's comments about a natural reluctance among businesses to apply for this funding. Should we instead blame bureaucracy, which is deterring business people from engaging with this?

The Minister and other senior Ministers came to Cootehill not long ago to announce the Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020: North-East. It is a nice, glossy document that was launched with much fanfare but the chair of the implementation committee, Mr. Richard Hanlon, made stark comments on the day on infrastructural plans that the Government may have to put in place. He mentioned strategy etc. and asked what would be the practical outcomes. There was also mention of the north west to north east road links. All that road infrastructure will be very important if the Government is serious about Brexit-proofing the Border counties.

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