Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I am answering Minister's questions, not questions for the Government. I can only speak about my Department's programmes and, as I explained to the Deputy, we have implemented the rural development programme. We have been closely engaged with the decentralisation programme and have transferred ten out of ten staff to Furbo, 101 out of 140 to Tubercurry, 25 out of 40 to Clifden and, despite a number of delays, are now making progress on Foras na Gaeilge. We have been creating jobs on the ground.

The rural development programme is my responsibility. I do not have general responsibility for rural enterprise, which falls to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, except for those elements addressed by the Leader programme. I hope to be able to make a decision on the scheme by the end of this month and roll it out in the following months.

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