Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for providing that update. I certainly welcome the information provided. To have 22 applications shows the value and importance of the scheme because these are projects that had to have their own sites. They were effectively shovel ready. They had planning permission and they had their own sites to develop. Clearly, 22 applications from around the country in a rather tight timeframe shows how valuable this scheme is and it is important that all those valid applications, or as many as possible, are funded to the maximum possible. That may require additional funding. I certainly hope and expect that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, will be making the case to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform that these are important. We have talked so often about facilities lacking in communities and communities having lots of houses but not having the required infrastructure, whether it be community centres, schools or whatever else. This is an important fund. I certainly hope the three projects in County Galway and projects up and down the country will get funding.