Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I refer to a proposal I put forward approximately six weeks ago in respect of having a silent street for St. Patrick's Day parades. I know the Leader's office wrote to local authorities around the country to ask them to take part in that initiative. Several parades did so this year. I attended the parades in Longford and Athlone. I commend the organisers of the festival for taking this proposal on board. Very positive feedback was received on it. We will keep going with the campaign to make sure every parade that does it next year. It needs to be taken on board not just in Ireland but should be considered internationally. We have had discussions with the organisers of the parade in New York, who will consider it for 2023. I thank the parade organisers, particularly those in my home town, including Fiona Fenelon of Longford Chamber of Commerce, who took this on board and worked with local parents. Ann O'Leary, whom I know personally, was involved and has been a very strong advocate for children with autism. I thank them and put that on record. We will keep the campaign going and make sure there is more of it next year.

I refer to just transition. Many groups are struggling for funding for projects. The midlands, my area, has been particularly badly hit in the context of just transition by the closure of Lough Ree power station. Significant funding has been allocated for projects but large community contributions have to be made to ensure those projects are delivered. With prices increasing, that is becoming ever more difficult. I did some research into funding. The Western Development Commission, which covers the west of Ireland, was set up many years ago and provides low-interest loans. It has a community loan fund under which loans of between €25,000 and €250,000 are provided at 3% over ten years. It also provides bridging loans at 1% that can be used for match funding for LEADER projects under the rural development programme. I ask the Government to consider extending that scheme to the areas affected under the just transition. A significant amount of funding has been allocated for projects but these projects have not progressed as a result of the large local contribution that is required. As one involved in community activities, I know the difficulty involved in accessing money from banks and so on. If that community loan fund could be extended to cover the just transition area in a manner similar to the fund offered by the Western Development Commission, it would be of great benefit. It is about adding extra counties in which groups would be eligible to apply to that fund. I would be very grateful for that. It would ensure we actually deliver a just transition for the midlands.