Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is acutely aware of what has been the impact on rural Ireland and, as a result, IDA Ireland has changed its strategy in terms of the development of technology parks, the upgrading of existing facilities and the purchase and construction of new ones in areas outside the main urban centres. It is welcome to see the significant investment being made by Apple in Athenry and the development of facilities in towns and other locations outside those centres. These developments are heartening, particularly as they are giving rise to the creation of further jobs throughout the regions.

The Government has published its programme for the provision of broadband services throughout the country, particularly in areas where capacity is seriously lacking and where this should not be the case. Enterprise Ireland has been allocated additional funding in order that it might facilitate small and medium enterprises throughout the country to assist in developing a regional strategy and promoting employment creation. That is why the Government established the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and the Ireland strategic investment fund. These are two major developments. The Ireland strategic investment fund contains €7 billion and the first public flotation on the Irish Stock Exchange relating to it - involving the Malin initial public offering, IPO - took place this morning. This development involves ten small companies which deal with various areas throughout the regions. As Deputy Martin is aware, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland has an investment capacity of €800 million in the context of small and medium enterprises and can provide lower-interest loans over longer terms. All of these are part of the programme for the development of provincial and rural Ireland.

As already stated, the fund relating to the rural development programme stands at €250 million. That amount is not as large as previously. The Leader groups, in terms of their responsibilities, are still very important.

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