Ms Martina Earley:

It is great to hear the support of Deputies Healy-Rae and Aird, in that we do not have a rural future without rural people, rural communities, farmers and small businesses.

There are three points I would like to come in on. There was reference to the rural social scheme. That is key in terms of socialisation and helping our farmers stay on the land and farm. It is a key rural development driver. Unless the implementation of the changes is put in and prioritised, extending it to people who do not have a herd number but are connected in the community - what Deputy Healy-Rae talked about - that scheme is going to be finished in the next few years. It has to be prioritised to keep rural Ireland open.

Deputy Healy-Rae talked about planning permission. In my county of Roscommon, we have planning but the issue is the LEADER funding. The businesses we want to support have planning in place but LEADER has been cut substantially so they cannot progress. The figure under previous programmes has been almost halved in the past 12 years and that is a key issue.

On the area-based approach and the voluntary boards, I thank both Deputies for their involvement in local development companies. It is fabulous to hear that and we are committed to the area-based approach.