Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach will know that the lack of quality infrastructure, including roads and broadband, is the biggest impediment facing people in rural Ireland. It is hampering growth and economic prosperity. If people are unable to access links or communications easily they cannot live and do business in rural Ireland and rural areas cannot grow.

The Taoiseach has described the urbanisation process, particularly of the greater Dublin region, with a consequent rise in rent, house prices, traffic gridlock and public order issues. No moves are being made to counter this, however. This view was echoed by the former chairperson of the Western Development Commission, Mr. Paddy McGuinness. He asked not to be considered for reappointment, stating: "I believe strongly that there is absolutely no commitment at either political or administrative level to balance regional development, nor is there any worthwhile plan to redress rural decline."

That is matched by a chronic lack of capital investment in infrastructure. The increase of €300 million in last year's budget was one tenth of what was recommended to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport just to repair the secondary road network. According to the Fiscal Advisory Council our infrastructure spend is the lowest in the EU.

The loss of rural post offices is causing significant concern. The programme for Government states that the Government will act swiftly on the recommendation of the post office business development group in advancing a new model of community banking. Can the Taoiseach tell us when this will happen?

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