Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I totally agree with the Deputy that we need to have regional balance. That has been the focus of the Government from the outset. If we consider job creation across the country, the national figure is a 3% increase in the past 12 months. The regional figures are much better than that. In my own area, for example, the south east, it is better. The focus of the Government has been on ensuring that every region is supported by this measure. The strategy to ensure fast-track broadband is available across the country to everybody is very important in that context.

Although the Deputy mentioned the €30 million for the new rural programme, that is a small subset of the moneys that are available. As he will know, I have agreed a multi-billion euro investment for rural Ireland, co-funded by the European Union with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which will impact on every village and area of the country. The schools, roads and primary health care systems we are building will support and enhance every region of the country.

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