Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The €60 million for investment in towns and villages to which the Deputy referred is only one aspect of this plan. There are many other aspects to it and billions of euro are being invested in rural Ireland. The Deputy referred to roads and infrastructure. They are a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. There are commitments in the plan regarding rural and regional roads. Other programs such as Leader and CAP are included in the plan. They provide vital support for rural communities and, in particular, areas outside our towns and villages. We have to include schemes that support rural development in an action plan for rural development. Some announcements may already have been made.

This is a co-ordinated approach to rural Ireland. We had consultation and the CEDRA report. This is for what we have been asked, namely, a cohesive plan for rural Ireland and that we all work together. The 2016 commemorations were very successful because everybody worked together and it was a plan in which communities could get involved. That is what made it the success it was. This is the same.

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