Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our MEPs. I take it that they represent Ireland as a nation when they are in Dublin, as well as the east. I am speaking from the Roscommon and Galway area from the west. My questions here are specifically for Ms Fitzgerald. Reference was made to just transition, which is of major interest to me because Shannonbridge is some ten miles away from Ballinasloe and Lanesborough is also in Roscommon. My questions are really about the Midlands and the west. Ms Fitzgerald mentioned €17.5 billion. Was there a phase 2 mentioned or something about that happening? A recent amount of funding came through that midlands regional transition team, MRTT, group, which Ms Fitzgerald is probably aware of. I have a quick question around that. Is there a phase 2? We are aware there have been a lot of challenges around the procurement and state aid. It has been a challenge for some of our community groups and some of the groups that did receive very good funding through that scheme.

Mention was also made of the €30 billion under the public loan scheme. Local authorities can apply for that. How is Ireland faring in that regard? I was not aware of that fund. Is it open at the moment or can local authorities such as Galway County Council or Roscommon County Council apply for those funds? I am also interested to know about when the recovery fund is opened, and the biodiversity fund.