Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps a better way of putting it would have been to ask when another call for applications would be made with an additional budget. The applications already received come to €170 million, which is 170% of the budget. There will either be many very disappointed people and organisations or the Minister will have to consider extra funding over the next couple of years. There is also an issue with the spread of the applications, which are concentrated in particular areas. Some counties, such as Carlow, for example, have made no applications. The Minister cannot control that or direct people to apply to the scheme but an additional call would give some of those counties or areas that are under-represented an additional opportunity to put in an application.

Will the Minister indicate the budget that will be granted for 2019 and 2020? Will there be a set amount for the next five or ten years, or will the process be kept open?

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