Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is the most important job, in Deputy Ann Phelan's role as Minister of State, to deliver on.

There is undue delay since the instigation of this report for which Mr. Spillane was appointed to go and carry out a complete investigation around rural areas. He held meetings in every corner of the country. He came up with some wonderful material. He listened to all concerned. Everybody got an insight into the real deep problems regarding the devastation of the countryside which has been largely ignored, except for the Leader groups. There is a void regarding Leader at present. There is a vacuum in the provision of funding for these rural areas and for all the entrepreneurs and various proposals that need to be developed.

This is like a report on a report. This is a continuation of pious platitudes and nothing being done. I ask the Minister of State and the senior Minister, Deputy Kelly, to get stuck into this. Deputy Kelly has deep connections in my county, Kerry-----

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