David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It may very well be that the very areas the Minister of State has mentioned are those that need the most support. If small local groups are already established, they are well on their way to drawing down grants, supports and so on. Does he agree that where there is nothing at all and where there is no local initiative, we need to put a structure in place whereby somebody goes into an area to encourage and support the proper democratic establishment of, for example, a community council at a very small local level? The benefits of such councils are massive. On top of that, some of the community councils in place are struggling to get people to take part and do the work, especially after the Covid pandemic. Will the Minister of State consider carrying out a national audit of parishes and areas to see where there are what he has called black spots, areas that do not have these structures, with a view to encouraging the local LCDC or another body to set them up?

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