Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not take five minutes as I know this is a long session for the Minister and everyone else and I am sure she has other things to get working on.

I acknowledge the Minister's support and guidance on many issues, not only since I came into the Seanad but from when I joined the Oireachtas in 2016. I hold her in high esteem. We sort of knew each other from times past. We did many programmes on radio on the credit unions in Cavan and Monaghan. The Minister played an outstanding role in that area and is doing incredible work on credit unions with the Government. She is supplying the goods; there is no doubt about that. We have probably the best chance now for rural Ireland. Even though we have battles to fight, I believe we will do pretty well. This plan must deliver and we all have a role to play in that regard. We have had many plans over the years but they have not been delivered.

There is a major crisis in my area now. I was not in the meeting earlier because I had to attend a meeting at home but perhaps Deputy Kerrane mentioned this issue. We will have no bank in north-east Roscommon after September. There will be no banking service right around the Longford, Leitrim and Westmeath border and into Roscommon. I do not care what people say about modern ways of doing things. The feedback from the small business and farming communities and the young and not so young is that they would like a third banking service. Even if such a service was available in a town or village for only two days a week, people would like to have it. That would be great. We must go ahead here in respect of the credit unions. They have the network, many of the staff and the buildings.

This would probably give rise to issues with the Central Bank, which the Government will have to fight. We are always talking about doing or that things will happen. If we lose every bank in the regions, as is happening in north-east Roscommon, it will defeat the purpose. This issue is being spoken about by the public. It is a challenge for the Government and everyone else. I wanted to make that point in passing. I know it is not the Minister's area and the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputies Donohoe and Michael McGrath, respectively, are probably dealing with it. However, it is also important from a rural perspective.

I mean no disrespect to Senator Burke but I remember when I came in here in 2016 that staff and people from other places asked where I came from. I am not sure if Deputy Kerrane has experienced this. When I said I was from Roscommon, people would respond that they passed through the county on their way to Westport. Deputy Kerrane, the Chair and I want to ensure that people stop in Roscommon from now on and that not everyone goes to Westport. We have a fantastic county in many respects and we are now getting support for projects.

I will not mention any locations in the county today but villages and towns may have plans that are just not up to what is required. It is important that we offer those areas that may need to improve their applications a second chance because we do not want to leave any town or village behind.

Many of the issues I wanted to raise have been mentioned and there is no point in going over them again. On a final point, three community development associations in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway have no money. Oodles of money is available if they want to do something with streetscapes, plant trees in a local park or engage in similar environmental endeavours. The problem they are experiencing is that their sources of revenue have dried up. It is not possible for them to do their usual fundraising activities, such as lotto draws, and online activities are not really practical for many of them. I am referring to raising small amounts of money to keep the telephone and electricity bills paid. The landlords - a group we give out about at times - of two of the three associations have not taken any rent for the last ten months. It was very generous of them to do that. Is there any way the Minister can look at this issue? I am only talking about a couple of thousand euro. I say that because I think we will get out of the current situation. We need to ensured the electricity supply and phone lines of these association are not cut off for a few months. They are in trouble now. It is a little crack that groups are falling through and the amounts of money involved are small. I appreciate this is a difficult area because giving out money to pay bills is not a simple arrangement to organise. Given the unprecedented times in which we are living, perhaps it is possible to look at doing that.

Many community development organisations are playing a major role in towns and villages across the country. I reiterate that I am talking about small amounts of money. A couple of thousand euro would get these organisations through the next few months and keep them afloat. If they fall by the wayside now, I am afraid we will lose an awful lot of goodwill.