Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Would the Minister agree that it is a tragedy and a shame to see the effect of the economic crisis and the baleful effects of austerity, particularly in regional areas and rural Ireland? This is iconically illustrated by the inability of local GAA clubs and possibly other sports to field teams because young people are forced out through lack of employment. Does the Minister agree that balanced regional development is crucial? What key proposals does he envisage between 2014 and 2020 with regard to the regional funds? What proposals and job creation figures does he envisage coming from that? Mindful of the fact that unemployment is tragically and unacceptably high in Dublin, what are the implications for working-class people who are in difficulty or people who are unemployed there?

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