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

I thank the Deputy. He is dead right. This is a good example of how we can have real and meaningful community engagement that delivers for people. Deputy Kerrane mentioned Ballaghaderreen. The local development company is providing support to the direct provision centre there. In fairness, these local development companies have done good work throughout the country. In my constituency, the local development company has engaged in Cavan in particular. There is a good example there of how Syrians integrated when they came into the area. Work is happening there and we have supported it.

As the Deputy said, we now have a real chance to have proper engagement. The number one priority when I announced the fund, along with the instruction to local authorities, was engagement. If they cannot show they have engaged with local communities, they will not get the funding. It is as simple as that. This is not for some long-awaited project that a local authority had in mind; it is about communities.

The system needs to be streamlined through the local authorities because, at the end of the day, we have to be strategic. They deal with the bigger picture and see what is going on. We do not want duplication or for taxpayers' money to be wasted. It is important they play a role in this. The one message I want to get out today is that communities need to get their voices heard, contact their local authorities and councillors and speak to their local representatives.

See this speech in context