Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to Deputy Collins first on the local improvement schemes. He is quite correct. While I know that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport was down in the constituency, he did not deliver the local improvement scheme, however. I did that. He was there 17 or 18 months ago and he did not deliver it. I delivered it though and we now have a scheme in place for the Deputy. On my visit to west Cork, no matter where I go, I try to notify everybody. It will not happen again because I will notify people. I do not really mind. I like people and, if I am in a place, it is great when Deputies and councillors give up their time to come. I appreciate that because I know people are busy. The day itself, when I was in that hub in Skibbereen, was tremendous. It is a credit to those involved. My town and village enhancement schemes money is in that digital hub. It was brilliant to see the number of professional people using the facility, the broadband and the information technology that was available to them and to see some local people now moving out and setting up jobs. I went down to Bandon, another town that I thought was thriving. It was great to see the OPW works that were taking place. The Government and the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, provided funding to deal with the floods that occurred there many years ago. It was great to see those works happening. What can I say about Clonakilty? I never met a group that was as excited as the Tidy Towns group there. Those people love their town so much. There are also other groups involved in other organisations in the town.

Deputy Collins raised the issue of rural-proofing again. It is a good point. I have a job at the Cabinet table to bring the rural voice. As the Deputy himself stated, he sought a Minister with responsibility for rural and economic development. I am there now. I have to make every Minister accountable to rural Ireland and to ensure that whatever is happening at the Cabinet table is rural-proofed. I am not alone there. I have colleagues who need to support me and help me, and they will. People realise that we have to rebalance what is happening in the country. I will continue to work at the Cabinet table to ensure that is happening.

The Deputy also raised the role of local authorities in the community.

Deputy Burke put it very well. My job is to allocate the money and it is the local authority's job to spend it. I brought in the various schemes, including the rural recreation scheme, the local improvement scheme, the town and village scheme and the CLÁR programme. The schemes are all making a major impact where I see them being delivered. The local improvement scheme was the best received. It was for those who needed a real boost to improve their boreens and roads. They are paying their taxes and water charges and they are also making a contribution to the scheme itself. I reduced the contribution.

The other issue raised concerned communities being involved in making decisions. Local government reform was about giving people a say in prioritising what was happening in their area. The local community development committees are with the local authorities. There is a mix of local authority members, businesspeople and representatives of all other sectors of society. They have to prioritise where the money should be spent and identify the difficulties and issues that arise. We have time to bring the initiative to the people. I really hope that it works. It is working. I want to make sure that the communities have a say and are involved, and that their powers are used wisely. I hope what is done occurs not because of a councillor is from a particular area but because there is a need to address a certain problem.

Reference was made to the Leader programme. The Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, will deal with broadband.

Deputy Burke referred to our action plan. My officials will be delighted to attend a committee meeting in this regard. The Chairman should arrange for it. I will hand the question on charities and dormant accounts over to Deputy Kyne.