Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to take up the Minister on the capital investment programme and acknowledge the work he has done in terms of the substantial investment of €69 million across three pillars. I want to focus on pillar two, with €20 million being allocated in 2024 and additional €25 million in 2025 for existing and new services. I want to touch upon rural and remote communities. I am working with people on Achill island, where young families have no services available to them across large distances. In fact, childcare options are nonexistent. In terms of strategic investment, how will the Department view the needs analysis being conducted by the working group to reflect the unique challenges across our country? How will this translate into action and visible outcomes? It is really important that we have clarity on how this fund will be specifically targeted to address the critical shortages across remote and rural areas as well.

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