Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Government is committed to providing essential public services in rural areas to secure a proper environment for economic development, promote social inclusion and support dispersed, viable rural communities. To this end, the programme for Government contains a series of commitments to strengthen and underpin public service provision in rural areas across a range of Departments and agencies.

One of the challenges faced by rural communities relates to accessing services from Departments and agencies. In line with a commitment given in the programme for Government, new integrated local development companies have been established in rural areas that will enable local communities to more readily access services in regard to a wide range of schemes and programmes operated by my Department. These schemes and programmes aim to strengthen the provision of services in rural areas, regenerate rural communities and support the diversification of the rural economy. Relevant schemes include the CLÁR schemes, the community services programme, the rural development programme, the rural social scheme and the pilot rural transport night scheme.

The CLÁR programme, which aims to tackle deficits in physical, economic and social infrastructure in peripheral rural areas affected by population decline, has a pivotal role in strengthening public service provision in rural areas. CLÁR schemes cover a wide variety of developments such as housing and schools enhancement, electricity conversion, roads, water supply, sewerage schemes, and health, coastal, sports and community projects.

The community services programme is of particular relevance. This programme supports voluntary and community groups to provide essential services, which otherwise would not normally be available within local communities, such as social care, services for older persons, youth support and recycling.

The Leader element of the rural development programme 2007–13 aims to improve the quality of life in rural areas and promote the diversification of the rural economy. The new programme is being rolled out this year and a sum of €27 million has been allocated for 2009. Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Western Development Commission, which come within the ambit of my Department, also promote economic and social development in rural areas.

In addition to the above measures, the rural transport programme, which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport, seeks to address social exclusion in rural areas arising from unmet public transport needs. This scheme is complemented by the pilot rural transport night scheme, which is operated directly by my Department.

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