Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her presentation. Credit goes to everybody who has been involved in putting this document together. It is fair to say we all want to see it succeed. If everything in it becomes a reality, those of us who live in rural areas, and, as the Minister said, would not live anywhere else, will be quite happy with that.

A number of the 150 commitments are dependent on many things coming together, the most important of which is the roll-out of broadband, and because there is considerable reliance on remote working hubs and broadband hubs in our communities, which is important and which I welcome, there is a need for the broadband roll-out to be accelerated. Could the Minister tell us about the role she or her Department is playing in the work that is being done to see if that plan be accelerated? It is a seven-year plan. The rural action plan is a five-year plan. If much of it is to be implemented, we need to see broadband being rolled out far quicker than it is now. Covid has shone a light on how important broadband is in all of our homes.

There is reference to enhancing public services. Of course, many towns across the State are losing bank branches, and not for the first time. We need a conversation in relation to public services for the rural communities, and particularly for towns in rural areas, because we want people to come back. We want people to live and work here but if public services are still being stripped, that will work against us. We need to look very carefully at the likes of banks.

In follow up to that, there has been reference - we have heard this on so many occasions - to the possibility of rolling out additional services to the post offices, which we all would very much support. What is happening with that? We have heard much talk about additional services going in. I would appreciate an update from the Minister on where we are at with that or where we are going.

I was surprised that there were not timelines in relation to the 150 commitments. The Minister might be able to speak about whether there will be timelines in relation to the commitments, aside even from the work plans that she will be bringing forward each year.

I welcome the provision of supports to local authorities to bring vacant properties back into use. We would all welcome that. We all know of towns in our constituencies where buildings are derelict in the centre of town but does the Minister know what kind of supports she is looking at in relation to what would be given to local authorities? Also, where there have been issues in the past when it comes to ownership, have we ways around that?

The adaption of town centres is also important. I note it is listed as being for social and cultural events. We need to see careful consultation, particularly with local businesses, when it comes to any move. In different towns I have seen ideas around pedestrianisation, etc. We need to be careful to ensure there is consultation with local businesses and that we are not taking out car parking spaces to put in trees and benches. They might look nice but we need to be careful in relation to all of that.

I welcome the increased places for community employment, CE, the rural social scheme and Tús. For some time community employment has been telling us it is struggling to fill places. I raised this with the Minister previously. There is an issue in relation to the over 55s only having three years on the scheme. In some cases, they are leaving a scheme and there is no one to replace them. Given the importance of the work they do and of such services, in particular those provided by CE, as has been shown by the Covid pandemic, we need to make sure if someone cannot be replace, there is some flexibility in leaving people in those schemes.

That leads me nicely to the local employment service, LES, and the tender that is coming down the line. It is so important that we have community-based employment services for people who live in rural areas and that we support people back to work, but that we also support carers and people who are outside of the jobseekers category on the live register. It is important they have access to community-based not-for-profit services. If the Minister can give us an update on the tender that is coming down the tracks for the local employment service, I would appreciate that. It is a service that badly needs to be protected.

On the reference to rural Ireland benefiting from a just transition, which is important and welcome, I met with members of the Lanesboro-Ballyleague collaboration group last week in relation to the Lough Ree power station. The creation of jobs there to replace those lost is obviously urgent and that is a short-term goal. They feel like nothing is happening on the ground. We need a real focus on such towns right across the State in the move from brown to green to make sure that they are not left behind. A number of grants are available and the Minister has gone through a number of them. It would be helpful if we could have some kind of one-stop shop on the Department's website where, if I represent a sporting organisation or a community group, I can log on and see what is available to me. There are many criteria and rules. That is fine but I suggest we make it easier for groups when they are trying to apply for something specific for their area. I will leave it at that.