Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter, which is particularly topical as community and rural groups nationally await with interest announcements on the approval of funding for projects they have submitted through their local development partnerships, which are very important for jobs and stimulus in rural areas. Rural development groups have contributed enormously to rural development and job creation since the 1990s, as the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, is well aware. Thousands of communities of all sizes have benefited in many ways. There have been local heritage, cultural and tourism projects, while small rural businesses have created employment at the heart of communities. Voluntary and community groups have benefited from the provision of community halls, playgrounds, scouting facilities and support for festivals which stimulate local economies every year by attracting business and visitors to rural areas. We must not forget training and development, a process of capacity-building for citizens residing in rural communities.

In my county, more than 100 projects of substantial size have been approved through the Waterford Leader partnership in the last seven years. It is important to acknowledge the voluntary efforts of rural community groups and the time they devote to improving their local areas. Last year alone, funding was granted to the Ardmore Pattern Festival, the Lismore Music Festival, the Kilmacthomas river walk, the Portlaw footbridge, the Lismore Immrama Festival of Travel Writing, the Waterford Festival of Food and the Cheekpoint and Faithlegg playground, among many others. It is important to continue to support rural development groups in every possible way.

There has been a substantial increase in the number of proposals submitted to the Department this year. I understand the Minister has requested an evaluation of the entire programme, which is reasonable given the limited resources available. It is important that groups can access funding through their partnerships as soon as possible. They contribute very valuably to job creation and economic stimulus in areas that would never be reached without the existence of the rural development programme and the partnerships. I ask the Minister to tell the House if the evaluation has been completed. We are coming to the end of April and projects await approval to get up and running and so that money can be spent proactively within communities. I am interested to hear the Minister's response as I am hopeful he can approve the projects to release the stimulus funding into rural areas as soon as possible.

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