An announcement by Co Clare TD Joe Cooney caught The Dealer’s eye during the week when he shared the news of €23.6m in funding for the Banner County from the Department of Justice, Home affairs and Migration administered Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP).

I see nature restoration charity Hometree is to receive €16m of the total monies heading west of the Shannon to support its Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project.

Based in Ennistymon since 2021, Hometree now hosts a hub there which includes a native tree nursery and education facilities. It also employs 30 people at its west Clare base.

From what I hear, most of the new money will go towards fencing and woodland restoration on their various sites across the west.