Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Waterways Ireland built the walkway with funding of €700,000 from my Department. We continued the project into Leitrim village and on to Carrick-on-Shannon. Another €1 million has been allocated for the latest connection. It is incredible what the project has done for the county and other examples can be found in Longford, Lubgate in Skibbereen, County Cork and Offaly. Small amounts of funding reap great benefits through, for example, the town and village regeneration programme, the CLÁR programme and rural recreation programme.

I happened to be in Achill when I was at home at the weekend. Funding has been received to extend the greenway into Achill. Businesses all over the country have been lifted. There is no doubt that the effects of the schemes we have introduced over the past two years are now beginning to be seen. It is possible to see what has been built and what is in action under these schemes, just as it is under the Leader programme. Projects like the food hub in Drumshanbo, which was mentioned by Deputy Kenny, are creating jobs and adding to confidence in the environment.

Some communities are great at getting funding under various schemes, including CLÁR, the town and village scheme and the rural environment programme. We have to think about the villages as well as the towns. Small funding gives a big lift to villages. Bigger amounts of money give a lift to cities and towns. We have to make sure there is an even spread. We try to look after the smaller places. I am pleased with the schemes we have introduced and the jobs that have been created. I am pleased with the goodwill that exists now. At last, communities feel that the Government is beginning to give them a bit of support. The introduction of certain schemes is a sign that the Government is listening to them. We hope that when the rural regeneration scheme is announced, we will be able to announce a few flagship projects that people will come in and tender for. We hope the scheme will be announced in July. All of my schemes will be up and running then. As I have said, the CLÁR programme is already up and running and will be closing next week. The local improvement scheme has been done. The town and village scheme will be opened on Friday. The rural recreation scheme will be open shortly.

I am happy with the schemes and with the funding we have allocated and spread throughout the country. I am happy that jobs are being created. I want to see money being spent. It gives me great pleasure and it is a source of great job satisfaction to see a new vibrancy in rural communities that have not had much confidence for a while. While it is good that people are becoming aware that grant aid can be drawn down to avail of the opportunities that exist, it is not all about grant aid - it is also about people being committed to the projects in which they are involved. I have seen what people in fine communities throughout the country have done after receiving small amounts of funding from the State. In some cases, those people have raised their own funds or borrowed money. Their projects are up and running. Some of the people in question have availed of the social inclusion and community activation programme, the community activation programme, the town and village scheme or the rural recreation scheme. I am pleased to have seen this in County Leitrim. When there is a return on the funding that is spent, it gives people a bit of hope. That is what it is about.