The town of Killorglin is in mid-Kerry and is a vibrant town that serves a broad hinterland in the mid-Kerry area. It also has its challenges. One of the opportunities for the town now is the rural regeneration and development fund and Kerry County Council has applied for funding in Killorglin to try to develop the town centre. This is to try to give Killorglin an economic boost and an opportunity to provide jobs into future for people in the area, as well as a better place to live. It is really important that Killorglin is successful in the forthcoming round of rural regeneration and development funding. I have been liaising with the Minister for Rural and Community Development on the matter but I ask the Tánaiste to personally intervene and ensure the town can get the money it needs to secure its future.

The Department of Rural and Community Development is currently assessing applications submitted under category 2 of the rural regeneration and development fund. I know Deputy Griffin is very supportive of the application in respect of Killorglin's town centre. It is a project he raised with me and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, before. I know the town centre well, having tried to cycle up that hill on more than one occasion on my visits to Kerry. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is aware of the Deputy's advocacy for the project. The application process is now at an advanced stage so I cannot pre-empt any announcement. I know she hopes to make an announcement in the next couple of weeks and, I hope, before Christmas.