Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Sadly, after a very long reply from the Minister, the answer to my simple question appears to be no. The Minister has not sought further schemes. Previously, when we had a community and rural development policy, it included the rural social scheme, responsibilities for the Gaeltacht and the islands, Waterways Ireland and drugs policy which is tied up with the RAPID programme and social deprivation. Would the Minister like to have these responsibilities back? Would he consider bringing a memorandum to the Government asking that they be transferred to give his Department the clout it needs? He knows in his heart and soul that trying to make representations to other Ministers is not half as effective as having control. Will he consider asking for these functions by bringing a memorandum to the Government stating this is where they rightly should be, given the precedent that this is where they were in the past?

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