Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment to support the long-term sustainable development of rural communities. On Monday, the Government announced its action plan for rural development but this is really a rehash. It is a compilation of previous plans, schemes and programmes. The 135,000 new jobs outside Dublin by 2020 are already contained in the programme for Government. The €60 million to be invested in 600 towns and villages over the next three years is not new money. It is actually approximately €30,000 for each town and village.

Under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, 139 Garda stations have been closed, many of them in rural Ireland. The Government's plan is to conditionally reopen six. The Government's new plan, therefore, is to implement its old plan. There is no commitment to keep open post offices, libraries, Garda stations, bus services, health services and other services that are essential to rural communities. The Minister has said that an implementation monitoring committee will be established but when will this happen? Who will be on it and will it produce regular reports on the plan?

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