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

I thank Deputy Kerrane. The chairs of the community response forums will be the liaison persons and the point of contact for communities that want to engage. I encourage them to engage with the local councillors as well because they will be aware of this funding that has come into the county. In regard to Roscommon County Council, under this specific fund, it has been allocated €689,057, so it will be able to do some good work with that allocation of funding. Some counties have received a great deal more. Donegal has been allocated €3.1 million because of the number of Ukrainian refugees who have been housed there as well as international protection applicants.

We have tried to focus this funding on the areas where the most people have been located. I have been down to County Clare, for example, where a great deal of good work has been done. Clare County Council has been allocated €2.9 million. The Acting Chairman, Deputy Carey, will be well aware of this. A high level of funding has been made available for good projects in those towns and villages. I was in Lisdoonvarna, where the local community groups have worked extremely hard in welcoming and facilitating Ukrainians. It is right and proper that we support them now in enhancing other facilities they have, for their own use and for the use of the wider community in those areas.

I take on board the points made by the Deputy. I will certainly raise them with the Department, in particular healthcare.

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