Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A regional plan has been launched. It will be driven by Mr. Patsy Carney, the programme director, to ensure that the aspirations of the plan are realised. The Tánaiste, the Minister of State, Deputy English, and I were determined, before we launched the plan, that we wanted to have a funding stream in place to ensure that the objectives could be delivered, which is key. We have secured that funding stream. It is €180 million over the lifetime of the plan. A new fund of €5 million was launched last week. It is a priming and feasibility fund which will enable promoters and projects to come forward, carry out a feasibility study and be ready to avail of the larger tranche of funding which will come on stream later this year. I encourage Deputy Murnane O'Connor-----

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