Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope to go back to Kinsale shortly to open that new library. I think the project is well on. Bandon has got funding - I think €5 million - for the town centre regeneration. I was in Bandon earlier in the year and met the Deputy's brother Danny down there. He is the cathaoirleach of Cork County Council. We had a great day there. There is a fabulous park in Bandon that we visited. That park was funded through the LEADER programme. I had a good conversation with the local community there. I talked to businesspeople. I think the €5 million for Bandon will make a huge difference in the town, and I wish the people there well with their work. They highlighted the issue of dereliction. That funding should be able to assist them in many different ways to develop the centre of the town. When I was there I went to the farmers' market as well. I also visited the local producers' co-op, which sells its products there. I know the money they have got will help them to improve their town. As I said, three applications came in and they were successful. My Department has to get the applications before we can approve the funding. We have been engaging with Cork County Council. If the Deputy looks overall through the whole of Cork, he will see that a lot of funding has been provided under all the different funding streams of my Department, whether it is the town and village scheme, the outdoor recreation scheme or the streetscape enhancement scheme. There is a lot of funding out there, and I encourage people to put in their applications.

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