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

The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, is rolling out the national broadband plan which is in the procurement process. It will address areas where commercial operators will not provide a service. It was welcome news that Eir was to provide high-speed broadband for 300,000 more homes. It is most important to have a monitoring committee because the action plan for rural development is a cross-government plan. Every Department has included actions in the plan and it is important that they all be monitored in order that when someone commits to something, he or she will do it. That is the purpose of the monitoring committee. Various measures in the plan are being progressed every week. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, launched the rural recreation programme on Friday and, as he said in the House, he wants a quick turnaround on it, as well as on CLÁR applications. I will shortly announce the opening of applications in stream 3 of the arts and culture capital scheme, in which Deputy Peter Burke has a great interest. We had a very successful launch in Moate a couple of weeks ago of the new €20 million town and village renewal scheme. I was delighted that the Deputy was able to attend on the day. Moate Action Group is doing great work locally to enhance the town and local community. We want to support such groups through the wide range of funding streams available.

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