Mr. Neil McDonnell:

I thank the Chairman and I apologise to the committee for the absence of ISME chairman, Mr. James Coghlan, who was unavoidably detained on business this morning. I do not propose to read our pre-circulated statement into the record. I will, as my colleague has done, highlight the really important points from ISME's perspective on maintaining a rural community. There are no surprises on the key issues. Firstly, the availability of high-speed broadband is really a non-negotiable requirement. It is as much part of the utility requirement for most small businesses as are electricity and clean water. We simply have to have it and we will not have a dispersion of small businesses into rural areas unless we have the ubiquitous availability of high-speed, high-quality, low-cost broadband services.

We are conscious that the local enterprise offices structure changed in the past number of years when the old county enterprise boards were replaced. We ask the committee to suggest a review of that system because, while the old relationship of those entities reporting directly to the Department still exists, we now have the introduction of the county manager as part of that structure. This presents a difficulty for certain small businesses that might be, for instance, seeking funding to expand while, at the same time, they have a planning application before a local county council. There may be a need to address the sensitivities that might exist there.

We are acutely conscious that rural transport has been under budgetary pressure for a number of years, but it is still worthwhile investing in it. This is especially the case for those who are unable, unwilling or cannot afford to drive and have to access medical and commercial services. We ask that the National Integrated Rural Transport Committee would examine the holistic provision of public transport in less densely populated parts of the west of Ireland. We use French and Austrian alpine resorts as a comparator because free public transport that delivers for local people operates at almost a Luas level of service there throughout the day or at key hours.

Lastly, we have emphasised the ability of the Office of Government Procurement to spread wealth, enterprise and funding into regional areas through the provision of State services via eTenders so that services associated with construction and all forms of commercial and technical activity can be provided by small businesses in towns and villages in rural Ireland. We believe that to be a far more beneficial social contribution to the fabric of rural areas than, say, social provision through the Department of Social Protection.