Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development

Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42- Department of Rural and Community Development

10:30 am

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their presentations. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Canney - the man to whom I showed the ropes a few years ago - on his appointment and wish him the best of luck.

Many of the schemes introduced by the Minister have been successful. I am not here to criticise him. I hope the Minister of State gets the same disease as the Minister in order that he might make money available. I know that, at times, it is difficult to do this. I have a few suggestions of which I would like the Department to take note. If councils are not fit to spend money on LIS, there are communities in every part of this country with community groups that are able to access money. There are only four or five roads in each municipal district. If the groups to which I refer are unable to carry out work on the two, three, four or five local roads by a certain date, they should be able to hire private contractors, price projects at the proper specs and make applications in order to draw down money, particularly if councils are not considered fit to do the work in question. This would be a way of alleviating problems in respect of accessing funding.

The Department distributes money for the Tidy Towns competition. Great work is being done throughout the country but there is a problem in respect of which the Department might liaise with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Many towns are struggling because someone might be on the scheme for a year but then has to leave and another person will not take up the position. There are towns and villages that do not have the relevant people and the local Tidy Towns groups are now paying individuals keep them in good nick. The groups in question do not have the resources to do that but they are battling on trying to do so to make sure they are awarded good points. There is a need to ensure that if there is no one to replace a person in a village on the scheme, an extension will be provided under the community employment scheme or Tús. I know that more people are working, which is good, but some Tidy Towns groups are really struggling.

I welcome the money provided in respect of the Suck Valley Way, the Beara-Breifne Way and other walkways.

The Minister referred to post offices. His argument that people must use post offices is 100% correct but in most of these areas, people were not allowed to hand them on. People are entitled to retire at 70 or 80. In this instance, the families of postmasters or postmistresses have not been allowed to take on the business. This is the reason why people are being forced into a corner. This point is directed to the Minister of State. The Minister has responsibility for rural affairs, while the Minister for State deals with climate change, etc. Is it possible for him to try to resolve a situation whereby letters are being sent back different communities, including that of the Chairman in County Clare. Nobody is saying that there is a need for a five-day or a seven-day service in small villages. Will the Minister sit down with the head of An Post and discuss this matter. We are seeking to ensure that designated local shops would be allowed to give out pensions, social welfare payments or child benefit once a week, perhaps on a Friday. We are not saying that these shops should do every single thing under the sun. What we are saying is that if the 50, 60 or 100 people in a particular village have to go to another town, then that village will struggle. That is all I am seeking. Nobody is saying that we will offer everything in these areas. If, like someone 60 years ago, I went out today with a horse and a mowing machine, I would not get any work because times have moved on. In business, including An Post, we have to move on and draw people in the door rather than allowing matters to stagnate.

I accept that the position regarding LEADER has been relaxed to an extent bit but would it be possible to work on ensuring that schemes are simplified? Every one of us finds that for some people, it is nearly like looking at the clock every night. They are waiting to see when this or that scheme is coming. Could the Department produce a calendar so that people will know that a certain scheme will commence in May, July or January? These people are volunteers, as the Minister is aware, and are trying to complete forms as best they can. I know the sports capital grant only comes out at a certain time. There is a system in respect of many of the schemes set up by the Minister so that they come out in February or March. Would it be possible to create a link with the schemes run by councils in order that we might provide communities with opportunities? It should not be a case of someone telling me that he or she did not know of a scheme's existence.

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