Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will understand that I am a step removed from the evaluation process and, as such, the straight answer to the Deputy's question is that I do not know. The group will know because, if it was involved in phase 2, it would have had to make a submission. I am happy to talk to the Deputy about that but, for very good reasons, I am a step removed from the evaluation process. It is based on objective criteria. EIPs are in great demand. That €17.5 million is in great demand and so there is a high bar to reach. That phase 2 process comprises my officials working with the groups to develop the projects so that those that are finally selected and allocated money will achieve the best return. I will come back to the point the Deputy has made about wool in general in my supplementary response but, by their nature, EIPs are designed to be locally led initiatives that we learn from. They are supposed to be models or pilots so that we can learn from their example, extrapolate from them and possibly include them in the next CAP on a national basis. That is the real strength of the EIPs. I will come back to the point on wool in my supplementary reply.

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