Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My role is very simple. When funding is coming from Europe and being allocated to each Department, my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development is to rural-proof the spending of same at Government level. It is my job to make sure that rural Ireland and, as Deputy Curran consistently argues, the community sector, are given due consideration. The community sector is very important, particularly in disadvantaged areas and I must make sure that the funding made available to every single Department is rural, urban and community proofed. I must make sure that we get the funding that we require and that every other Minister understands the issues on the ground. The Deputy is quite correct in saying that this is not just an issue for one Minister. I cannot be the only Minister dealing with the development of rural and urban communities. There must be a combined, across-Government approach. All Departments must support me and must ensure that a fair percentage of the funding available to them is invested in things like the SICAP, LEADER and other programmes that focus on disadvantaged communities, particularly in rural Ireland. We must ensure that we develop the regions.

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