Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I will be parochial this time. Several organisations in my area see what the sports capital programme has achieved and say they must fight to create their own funding. While the web is a wonderful addition to modern technology, it is hard to beat the piece of paper in rural areas. Is there a mechanism to drive forward this kind of grant? Rural life and volunteerism are diminishing. There is, however, a resurgence of the local hall in some areas. Can the Minister regenerate interest through local media and create a new impetus to ensure the continuation in some instances, and regrowth in others, of community halls which can provide so much entertainment for the community and visitors?

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