Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very concerned about that issue. I am also concerned that it will be mainly administered by the local community development committees, LCDCs, rather than Leader partnership companies. That is a big cutback for rural areas compared to the bottom-up approach we had with the partnerships. The populated areas, with which I have nothing against, will probably benefit more than the rural areas under the LCDCs. That is the legacy the former Minister, Phil Hogan, left us and we cannot blame him entirely because he was supported by the Government at the time. That is what has happened. We have been asked by the partnership companies to inquire if they could get a separate fund - it would not be the Leader fund - whether some of it would come from Europe or wherever. Rural communities will be left behind as we move forward. That is the way I see it and I have to represent the people who are concerned about it in rural areas of south Kerry such as Sliabh Luachra, Annagh and Duhallow who have given great value for the money they received over the years. They represented east Kerry, Gneevgullia, Rathmore, Ballydesmond and Knocknagree and they really helped rural areas that were struggling. The partnership companies will now find it difficult to even survive.

I would like to hear what the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, will say about the CLÁR programme. CLÁR funding was especially valuable for class 3 roads, as we call them, in respect of which there was no hope of ever getting funding. They are public roads in the charge of the local authorities but they are not getting adequate funding to maintain those roads. Those roads are now in a desperate state. I received a request from a postman as late as yesterday inquiring if a digger could level the middle of the road because his van is getting stuck on his way to deliver letters to the locals. That is a sad reflection of how far backwards matters have gone in rural areas. CLÁR funding would be really appreciated if the Minister of State could progress it and I depend on him to do that.

I do not know under which Minister's remit this comes, but discretionary funding used to be provided for local roads. The practice of providing such funding ceased in the past four years.

This committee is discussing ways and means of helping rural Ireland. Not all of the class three roads were designated for the CLÁR programme, but these roads are getting no funding now unless there is a community involvement scheme where residents contribute 15%, 20% or, in some cases, 25% of the funding. That does not suit for a link road because it means that people from outside are using the road and the locals do not see how it is right that they must contribute for a road which others are using. When the allocation of discretionary funding came to Kerry County Council it gave each councillor a chance to nominate two roads that were in a desperate state. The people concerned are paying their motor tax, insurance, property tax and, most likely, they are paying for their water, be it from pumps or in a group scheme.