Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

What does the Minister consider to be a shovel-ready project? These projects are getting no advice as to where they stand. They are submitting the applications and I am talking to the groups. There is no communication from the Department from the day those applications arrive to the day the projects discover that they have not been successful. Yes, Kinsale received funding during the first round, something for which I congratulate and thank the Department, but west Cork has been completely omitted since then. A total of 48 projects received little or no funding in the second round. The amount involved, after so many millions had been spent throughout the country, was €276,000. Why was proper advice not given to these communities? The Minister should remember that these are community and voluntary groups. They do not have €363 million like the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the budget of which the Minister tops up, or Coillte, the budget of which is also topped up. These groups have received no advice and the Department or the local authority should come back to them and explain matters. I am concerned that this matter is turning into a political football. Local community and voluntary groups are being overlooked and Ministers can wag the tail of the Government. We must turn it around. This funding was meant for rural projects but it is not being delivered in rural areas. Six Fine Gael councillors ran in west Cork but only two got across the line thanks to the Government. They are great people but the Government let them down in the Clonakilty-Bantry electoral area. West Cork has had it with the Government, not with me.

See this speech in context