Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government states that the renewal of towns and villages will be a top priority for the new Minister with responsibility for regional and rural affairs as a way to revitalise rural Ireland. To deliver on this goal, the new Minister will develop a new and improved town and village renewal scheme, with input from the Oireachtas, in time for the budget in 2017. As part of the scheme, the Government proposes to commit additional funding to support the development of rural towns and villages. When will the House learn about this scheme and how much funding will the Government allocate to it?

Finally, I thank the Minister again publicly in this House for allowing "Star Wars" to come to Kerry, because it would not have been there only for that. I give credit where credit is due.

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