Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is the first budget for the newly created Department of Rural and Community Development. I am honoured to have been asked by the Taoiseach to lead the Department. The Department's role is to facilitate the creation of jobs and infrastructure, connect people and support our communities. My remit is to deliver this through rural and community-focused programmes delivered by my Department and to work at the Cabinet table to ensure that other Departments get the backing they need to support rural Ireland and deliver on their commitments.

My Department received €220 million for 2018, which represents a 12% increase, the second highest of any Department. The average increase across Departments was 3%. This funding will allow the Department to support people, families and communities in rural Ireland. Funding for many key programmes has been increased. The increase in the town and village renewal scheme of €3 million brings total funding to €15 million and will benefit hundreds of rural communities. Funding for the outdoor recreation scheme will be increased by almost €4 million to bring the total to almost €11.4 million. Programmes like these are not only about improving life for rural people, they must also deliver jobs. Last month in Drumshanbo, I attended the opening of a boardwalk over a lake. The Government has invested €700,000 in a blueway project which was visited last year by 80,000 people who supported eight small local businesses hiring out boats and bicycles or providing other services. That has given Drumshanbo a great boost. It is a small investment but it has created jobs and helped rural Ireland.

The two Deputies opposite have been asking me for the last year about the local improvement scheme. I was delighted to be able to deliver €10 million this year and I hope they will talk to local authorities to ensure they spend it. I have secured a further €10 million for the scheme for next year.

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