Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his reply, but does he not agree that the small amount of information given in his reply is very disappointing from the perspective of Galway East? Does the Minister recall how the CLÁR programme was warmly welcomed when it was launched? The Minister came to Galway East as part of the promotional tour for the programme. I was also enthusiastic about the programme because I thought it would deliver many parts of my constituency from the misery and neglect they have suffered over a number of years. Does the Minister agree that, from a Galway East perspective, my optimism was without foundation? Does he further agree that this programme has been a failure from the perspective of my constituents in that it has not helped them?

The Minister and I share the same county but different constituencies. Does the Minister agree that his constituency of Galway West has benefited much more from the CLÁR programme than my constituency of Galway East? In his reply, the Minister said that there are approximately 27 DEDs in the CLÁR area in Galway West and approximately 43 DEDs in the CLÁR area in Galway East. Does the Minister agree that, looking at last year's allocations under the programme, Galway West benefited by a factor of approximately 3:1 over and above Galway East?

I can give the Minister some examples if I have sufficient time. Under the LIS roads funded CLÁR programme in 2004, there were nine roads in Galway West to the value of €100,000 while there were three roads in Galway East to the value of €26,000. In 2004, there were four small public water and sewerage schemes funded under the CLÁR programme in Galway West and two schemes in Galway East. That is not a factor of 3:1 but when one examines the money, one will find that this is a much greater multiple of 3:1 in favour of Galway West. The figures were €680,000 for Galway West and €131,000 for Galway East. This is particularly relevant for communities like Milltown, Glenamaddy and Creggs. The Minister has visited Creggs. The town has an inadequate sewerage system. They are crying out for some form of Government assistance to help improve their lot but no help is coming. It concerns me that this programme, though brilliant in theory, does not deliver in my constituency.

The Minister visited Dunmore recently——

See this speech in context