Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I am glad to see that my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is here. I noticed that the antennae went up straightaway when Kanturk was mentioned. The Minister of State might have a word with his ministerial colleague about this application. He said the selection of individual projects had regard to range, mix and quality. What has been put forward for the regeneration of the town park in Kanturk is fantastic. It contains everything possible, including landscaping, a sensory garden and biodiversity, which is so important and into which all communities are buying. There are to be picnic areas, seating and benches.

This is an important project for the town park in Kanturk and the people of the entire Duhallow region. I ask the Minister of State and his colleagues to lobby in every way possible to make sure the funding for it will come through. The project is vital for Kanturk. We do not want to be disappointed again, as we were in seeking CLÁR funding recently. There is great ambition for the town among its residents and those living in the greater Duhallow region. Thankfully, tere is a lot of very good work being done. The project must not be overlooked on this occasion. We were overlooked in the allocation of CLÁR funding, as the Minister of State outlined. A great amount of work has been done by the local authority and LEADER groups, into which all communities have bought. More importantly, the community of Kanturk has bought into it. We are looking forward to an announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development to ensure the Kanturk regeneration project will be included. As I said, there is an application and the total cost of the project is €140,000. Funding of €112,000 has been sought and I look forward to it being allocated. I hope the Minister of State will pass on my comments to the Minister and the Department and outline the urgent need for funding for the project.

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