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

I thank the Minister for the update. I want to acknowledge the increase in funding, as it is very constructive. What it means locally is that in our own area, there are four lanes instead of three being tarred. Additional families can benefit from that.

As well as the increase in funding, there is also, unfortunately, an increase in the rules and conditions that apply. That is a difficulty for many of the participants. The Minister is familiar with the demand for the scheme and that some people have been waiting for several years to be approved. When their turn comes, they may find there are two landowners and everybody involved has to take part in the scheme. This makes it difficult in some cases. People who qualified when they originally applied find they are in trouble several years later. Not everybody will be able to participate in the scheme. There are people who genuinely cannot afford to do it and will not put their name on the application. There may be people who do not agree with one another. The land may be rented or the farmyard may be on another road and the farmer may be not using the road. They are required to provide a significant amount of information such as a map, herd number and so on. These are additional conditions that are not required of householders. There is an increase in conditions that makes it more difficult to access. We want it to be available to the widest possible range of people.

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