Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I very much welcome the Department's input in the response to Covid-19 and to the challenges that Covid-19 has posed for rural communities throughout the country, and the central role the Department has played in the Community Call to roll out a stability package for communities. The accelerated measures under the town and village renewal scheme were very welcome, as was the CLÁR programme. While yesterday offered a day of hope for the world in respect of the roll-out of the vaccine, with the first jabs having been administered in Britain and Northern Ireland, what is the Department's thinking in regard to next year?

Will we still be grappling with the fallout from Covid-19? Will the Department continue to give that assistance to communities in programmes such as the town and village renewal scheme, CLÁR, the Community Call, and other initiatives, which was so valuable this year?

Today marks the opening of a broadband connection point, BCP, in Carran in County Clare, in the Michael Cusack Centre. It is a wonderful day. It is a joint effort by Clare County Council and the Michael Cusack Centre. It will offer broadband connectivity to that rural part of County Clare. It was brought to my attention that there is a position in that centre for a caretaker. The previous caretaker, who would have been employed under the community services programme, has retired. Because the community services programme is currently being reviewed, there is a state of flux in that regard and the position has not been filled, and there is no indication that it will be filled. I have corresponded with the Department on the matter. Other public representatives and I have been contacted by the Michael Cusack Centre. Perhaps it is unfair to throw it out to the officials here but maybe they could follow up on that. This issue arose during Covid and it is unresolved. The broadband connection at the centre today should be a good news story, and it is being opened formally by the chief executive of Clare County Council, Mr. Pat Dowling. It is important, however, that the funding would be made available to the centre so it can be run and marketed properly, and we can be proud of that centre in County Clare.