Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her engagement and for her answer. I have looked at the funding for last year and this year. Many counties have gained. Clare could be unique - I accept that there may be more counties involved - because it has seen a diminution in funding. I am a Government backbencher. Across nearly all funding streams I can think of - including sports capital funding, the announcement of which happened last night - moneys are increasing by most metrics. I do not know if this was an oversight because most counties have done extremely well.

I would love if the departmental officials could look back at Clare. It looks like a great deal of money is going to Clare. When it is spread across two years, however, it boils down to a reduction.

I wish to make a constructive suggestion about the timing of these announcements. They come out at the end of April or early May when the council is flat out with its summer road works problem. A councillor suggested to me that it would be wonderful if this could be announced late in the winter or very early in the spring in order that it could be factored into roadworks. Many local authorities find themselves under pressure in autumn and early winter to complete the works they are planning to do. That money needs to be topped up for County Clare. I hope the Minister can could look at it again.

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