Mr. Paddy McGuinness:

All of this is a personal opinion. I have no semblance of doubt that it is a deterrent and a real negative. I am not sure how that can be dealt with. It has probably gone on since the State was formed, but for some strange reason, at rural affairs level, it is very dominant. I do not want to be negative all the time, and I do this often, but I believe that there is a huge need to reduce the level of bureaucracy in this area. I feel that most communities are anxious to help in solving their own problems. A minor suggestion to think about would be to set up a fund to make a certain amount of money available to any community that has a reasonably coherent plan, providing it could match it with the same amount of money itself, with absolutely no strings attached, and almost a condition that it would not become involved in bureaucratic activity, and that further moneys to that community or communities would only be made available on the basis of achievement. It may be too simple but I think it could work. We hear about "bottom-up" all the time, but I can say that, at the bottom, there is not much chance of getting up that ladder.