Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, again, acknowledge the contribution of Senator Carrigy. Having listened to everything he said, if every Oireachtas Member was as well informed as to what was happening in his or her local authority area as he is, it would add to the richness and quality of the debate and the information available to us in this House when dealing with these types of issues. The Senator listed a number of projects and it is clear he has a great interest in each one. I acknowledge what he said about the 15% being used for matching funds to increase. The Government has provided an unprecedented level of support in the context of the just transition and the impact of Covid-19 at the same time. Longford County Council applied 100% commercial rates waiver for 100 businesses and received more than €4 million from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for that rates waiver.

On additional Covid-related expenditure in 2020, the Department provided €1.7 million to Longford County Council due to other income loss streams. As has been the case since the outset of the pandemic, the Department will continue to engage with the local government sector, with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic and provide them with the necessary financial support. Additionally, in the Senator's county there will also have to be special engagement on the just transition and the serious loss of a rates base in the county.