Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate the now urgent call for the extension of the slurry spreading season. The date on which farmers will no longer be allowed to spread slurry, 15 October, is fast approaching, but I am receiving increasing communications from farmers and agricultural contractors who have not had an opportunity to spread slurry at all this year on account of waterlogged lands. It is no secret that we in the west have been particularly afflicted. Faced with the prospect of trying to do so between now and 15 October, it is neither feasible nor tenable, and unless an extension is provided, we face the possibility of overflowing slurry tanks, which would pose their own environmental hazard. I call on the Minister for the environment to take the necessary steps in this regard.

I ask that the sports capital grant be introduced and that it be weighted in favour of rural areas. In these rural areas people find it very hard to raise matching funds - or indeed to raise funds at all. There have been great benefits under the previous rounds of sports capital funds that really allow rural communities to thrive and, in particular, to have young people participate in sports and youth development. I was particularly struck by an item published on balls.iein which the serious disparity in expenditure of the GAA's development money was highlighted, with most of it going towards the development of sports in Dublin. While this is an internal matter for the GAA, it shows that in the more rural areas and other counties, this investment is not taking place, notwithstanding the fact that the Sports Council puts €1 million of taxpayers' money into the GAA every year.

I have worked with a number of the GAA groups in my county and have helped them secure sports capital funding. They are very committed and they do a fantastic job as volunteers in every parish in this country, but along with other sporting organisations, especially in rural Ireland, they need that extra help to make sports facilities a reality. I ask that the sports capital grant be reopened and weighted in favour of rural areas.