Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting and novel to hear a Minister urging this side of the House to make sure to spend the money. She is right, absolutely. The local authorities and organisation need to make sure they spend it. The timescale of it, necessarily, was tight enough and some organisations were not aware of it and might like to put in more comprehensive applications. They might like to come back next year, if she can tell us when that advertisement is going to come out and how organisations can prepare for it.

The other comment I will make is more for the record and is not particular to the Minister's Department. Cash is welcome and beneficial in respect of community facilities. An awful lot of communities have done enormous good and hard work and absorbed pressure on resources. What Government also needs to do is address cross-departmental issues whether it is Garda numbers in a community, a library, access to general practitioners or school places. Government as a whole across the Departments needs to match those needs as well.

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