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

I have no doubt it is a good community. I will tell the Deputy a story. I was talking to a fellow one day and he asked me: “How come we got no money? How come we did not get any grant?” I asked if they had put in an application and he said “No.” I said that if you do not put in an application, it is not going to fall out of the sky.

I appreciate there is work to be done in putting together applications but people need to work with their local authority. In this case, it is Cork City Council, which has a community section, like all local authorities. I would say to that local community to come together and come forward with a plan. There are different places they can apply to get funding to put together a proposal. For example, LEADER has been very good in the past at providing money for a feasibility study. I would suggest to that community to get their plans together, work with the local authority and get their application in. The Government cannot help if they do not get an application in. We will be happy to support any community that puts in an application.

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