Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Dr. Seoighe is right that the report is a book of inspiration. Often in this country, we look at the glass as empty rather than half full and find what is wrong with things. This is actually a consultation indicating where we want to go. It is about a book of ideas on where we would like to get to.

May I make a suggestion to the delegates on communicating with the public on this matter? They have done a good job to date. There is very strong loyalty to county boundaries in this country and at meetings of this committee. Particularly as we enter the summer months, we are very lucky to have very strong local media, including community and local radio stations and local newspapers. This is probably unique in the world. It is possible to segregate the ideas that have come from different counties. Doing so and providing a narrative along with the ideas would be of great benefit to community and local radio stations and other local media in that they could present to local communities what they have come forward with. Not only would we be inspiring researchers but we would also be inspiring local communities.

In this regard, I wish to refer to the work Dr. Keaveney has been doing with the three west-coast communities and the tool she has now developed. Several years ago in County Roscommon, we established town teams. We went to individual towns, through the local authority, and the chief executive at the time, Mr. Tony Ryan, was the inspiration. We examined the unique characteristics of each town, including the positives and what we would like to improve. In Boyle, people wanted to deal with the eyesore that was the Royal Hotel. In Castlerea, it was a matter of developing food businesses. Different towns examined issues unique to them. This ultimately led to the establishment of the rural regeneration fund across the country and the culture of bottom-up production of the best ideas.

How does Dr. Keaveney believe the concept she has developed with three communities can be rolled out around the country, taking the ideas coming from Creating Our Future and the tools being developed by our academic researchers and using them to allow communities to come up with a blueprint? Dr. Keaveney is correct that it is the communities that are looking for funding for local initiatives. The reason for the rural regeneration fund was that everything came from the top down before it. Every town and village in the country had the same lamp posts, seating, footpaths and kerbing, because that was what the grants were for. Everyone was shopping around for grants rather than what was in the best interest of the local community. We have turned this on its head. If the tool in question were made available to more communities, and they were conscious of it and able to utilise it, it would help to stimulate at local level what is now happening at national level through Creating Our Future. Could Dr. Keaveney comment on that?