Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The question the Deputy asked related to commitments in the programme for Government. The new Department of Rural and Community Development has overtaken that. That is why, within the Department, other schemes have been set up, particularly in relation to local and community schemes, the community enhancement programme and local community development committees, LCDCs. The point of the community enhancement programme is to bring it down to a local level where local people who know the local needs and have the local knowledge want to be able to make local decisions. I have increased the funding for these programmes. Not only have I allocated money once this year, but I have done so twice because I believe the people on the ground know where the difficulties are.

The question the Deputy asked was in respect of commitments in the programme for Government. The new Department has overtaken that and my Department is leading community and rural development, particularly for libraries. That is why the funding I have allocated this year has gone down to the LCDCs, working with the county councils. Local people and local communities can identify where local problems are.

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