John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to see that a date has been set for spring 2026 for an announcement of the next round of funding. A lot of clubs that were not successful this time around will be waiting in anticipation. They will have the opportunity to prepare now in terms of planning permission and getting themselves in train to prepare for the application process itself. It is a tough application process, there is no doubt about it. It was reviewed previously and I welcome the fact the Department is going to review it further with a view to simplifying it more for applicants. That is particularly important in the context of Deputy Burke's point about disadvantaged areas. It is hugely important that we try to assist those communities with the application process because it is difficult. It is all online now and trying to get planning permission and other arrangements in place can be hugely difficult for those communities. I welcome the fact the Minister of State is open to taking some of our suggestions on board over the next couple of months.

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