Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the development of rural Ireland, I am sure the Deputy will join me in welcoming the announcement by Apple of the establishment of a major data centre, on a global and European scale, in Athenry. That is the type of news for rural Ireland that every Deputy wishes to hear. It is part of the fruits of the work of the Government in developing a regional strategy, which we published recently, for rural development. I agree with the Deputy that the recovery has been most strongly felt in the big cities of Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Cork. We know that and it is the Government's job to spread that recovery out to every section of the community, and particularly to rural areas, through the regional development strategy. In addition to Athenry, the Deputy will be aware that there have been a number of other positive announcements through ConnectIreland relating to employment in rural areas.

Second, when I was appointed Tánaiste, given my commitment to rural Ireland, I secured the appointment of Deputy Ann Phelan as Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs to focus on the economic and social challenges that face people in rural areas. The Deputy outlined some of the challenges they face. The Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, is tasked with implementing the recommendations of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, for the remainder of this Government's term. A great deal of work has gone into developing strategies for agriculture and the marine, areas where we have significant strengths. Again, the Deputy will welcome the fact that markets in the United States, China and Japan are now open for Irish beef. That is a very important vote of confidence in rural Ireland.

Regarding transportation and the Bus Éireann regional routes, I heard the details about the meeting in Castlecomer and that this will now be reviewed, as it ought to be. People in rural areas, like people in the outlying regions of Dublin and many in my constituency, depend on good transport links to get to college, to their jobs and to hospital appointments. Bus Éireann did not contact me about its plans. However, I am aware that it is looking at those plans and taking account of how it can best address the needs of the communities that would be affected.

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