Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Sorry. There will be €300,000 per area. One of the things I have a problem with is the myth that one can develop rural Ireland with peanuts. I am not blaming Mr. Keatinge - I am blaming those in Europe or whoever - for the idea that this can be done cheaply. They would not think of providing a similar sum for the development of a street in a city. I was involved in developing rural Ireland by creating jobs, etc. I am aware that millions are needed to get a decent project off the ground.

It seems to me that there are seven themes here. Seven goes into 300 approximately 30 times, if one is generous. That is where I got my figure of €30,000 from. There will be approximately €30,000 for each fisheries local action group, which extends across the length of a county. It is interesting that BIM is being asked to work the miracle of the loaves and fishes. I think those days are over. I know of nobody who can turn this kind of money into the kind of growth that is needed. Regardless of the multiplier factor that is put in, it is still not money. At least €250 million has been made available under the current Leader programme, even if this represents a huge cut on the previous programme. It is going to be a very small programme. Everybody involved in Leader is telling me it is a peanut programme. It is very small this time. They are correct to say that there have been massive cutbacks.

The main point I want to make is that there is a need for someone to go to Europe to get some decent money so that we can have a proper FLAG programme that will make a difference in these areas. Nobody really thinks that this kind of money, by the time it has been spread over an entire county, will make a significant difference in the communities we represent. Having been in and done the job - I know what is involved - I am aware that this is totally cosmetic. This is what often happens in rural schemes. It is not real and it is not going to do us any good. Some of those who get a few bob will be happy to go around saying "I got this and that". I do not begrudge them the few bob, but if we are talking about the overall economic development of rural areas, this is a non-player.