Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I welcome the proposals contained in the Bill for the introduction of a new tax incentive scheme for tourism facilities in the mid-west region, in particular for specified areas within a seven to eight mile corridor of the Shannon River. I welcome this not alone because it contains benefits for my constituency, but because in some small way it makes an attempt to spread tourism activity outside the traditional tourism locations.

East Galway has not had any significant benefit from tourism. Some small pockets have seen some activity, but in the main no tourism activity takes place. I welcome the initiative, not because it will do wonders for my constituency, but because when one comes from an area like east Galway that has seen a lack of effort from successive Governments, one realises that the crumbs from the table are better than nothing at all. We are accustomed to crumbs in east Galway, and from that point of view it is disappointing the Finance Bill did not contain any other initiatives for such areas or for the west as a whole.

As a result of the neglect of the region by successive Governments we need positive discrimination in favour of the region and other regions like it. The disgraceful outcome for the west under the national development plan cannot go unchecked. The Government must acknowledge we have a problem of major proportion and set about putting corrective measures in place to address the region's weaknesses. They need to be addressed in a positive, up-front way, not by lip service where we hear over and over how committed the Government is to the west. We do not want to hear any more on the issue, but want to see action.

The neglect of the west and east Galway could not be more manifest than through the saga surrounding the threatened closure of Seamount College in Kinvara, which is in my constituency of Galway East. Seamount College is an excellent all-girls' secondary school, but the Mercy sisters are pulling out of the provision of education there and no intake of students will occur in September unless the Department intervenes and saves the school. The Minister and her Department are dragging their feet on the issue. They are examining figures and projections, but in effect are doing nothing while the lifeblood of this excellent school is draining away. This is just one further example of the Government's neglect of the west.

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