Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not in a position to provide the staffing levels relating to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs this morning, but I will obtain that information and forward it to the Deputy. On his broader point regarding the need for balanced regional economic development, this was acknowledged very strongly by myself and the Government on budget day. For example, we have always made it clear that the response to Brexit cannot be a Dublin response. It must be a national response in order to allow all parts of the country to avail of the opportunities that exist and to deal with risks such as those posed by Brexit.

Regarding how we are seeking to make progress on this agenda, I point to the rural development plan. Much of it was overseen and will be implemented by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, and his Department. The rural development plan has received an increase in funding from €494 million to €601 million. The reason that this fund has been increased is to respond to the agenda to which the Deputy refers. In budget 2017, funding was also put in place for the sheep welfare scheme. This issue was raised by Deputies in the Rural Independent Alliance during negotiations on the formation of the Government.

Deputy Harty referred to regional and State airports. He is correct that plans are in place for Dublin Airport to get a new runway. That will be subject to a new oversight process. Along with that, however, consider the recent performance of Knock airport, where passenger numbers increased by 10%. Shannon Airport has become an independent State airport and this gives it the autonomy to respond to the needs the Deputy outlined. In addition, Cork Airport is doing tremendous work in adding new routes and new capacity.

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has received additional funding to implement the action plan on rural development and for the Leader programme and Údarás na Gaeltachta, an issue the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, has been pursuing and which he raised with me on a number of occasions during the Estimates process in the run up to the budget. We are also at an advanced stage with the new national broadband plan to respond to the digital and connectivity issues the Deputy raised. Deputy Harty also raised the jobs plan. The jobs plan now has a regional dimension, which it had been lacking up to this point, with clear targets set by region. The objective is to deliver jobs growth throughout the country.

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