Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is where we might have a small disagreement, because I absolutely agree with the Minister that it has to be community-led, but setting the targets will not interfere with that in any way, shape or form. The setting of targets actually gives a focus. The Minister was not doing the communities any favours when he suggested that they could work not to a deadline or a target because they can. There is quite an amount of disillusionment with regard to the commitment that this Government has to regeneration, particularly in rural Ireland. The nature of the fabric was actually exposed during Storm Éowyn. As the Minister mentioned, some communities were able to be very resilient because they had bricks-and-mortar facilities and places to go, and others that had the bricks-and-mortar facilities were not suitable. Even if the Minister said that the target was to find those areas that could not step up during Storm Éowyn and begin with them, but failure to set a target is a mistake because by setting targets, deadlines are driven and delivery is ensured.

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