Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the plan, the Deputy is quite correct. This time we really went all out. We had 11 regional workshops, two special workshops with young people and a public online survey in which 1,700 people participated. We went into the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development and it made a submission. There were submissions also received from rural-based organisations. The Deputy made a very valid point and it is one I look at all the time. I want to respond in respect of other things that should be done in the Department as well. The Deputy is quite correct. There are many organisations and we need some way to bring them together and not have half services here and half services there. We need to look at a means of sitting down with community groups, local authorities and stakeholders to see how we can bring them all together. There are bits being done by one organisation and bits being done by another. I need to be able to get them to sit down together. Were it not for some of these organisations, we would not have the services. I am not being critical of them and I am delighted they are there. If we did not have them, we would have difficulty.

The Deputy asked about possible areas for transfers of responsibility. When we are back in government and I am Minister again, Deputy Calleary is going to have a wider brief as Opposition spokesman. Tourism and sport would be a lovely fit with my Department's brief. The greenways and national parks would fit into it, as would Waterways Ireland. All these would fit with the outdoor recreation schemes. I announced further funding for Cavan for the walks scheme yesterday. All that would fit into my Department. We are well capable of delivering all those schemes. I have a very good team, a very good Department and great young officials who are very bright and very able. I can tell the Deputy they are anxious for more work.

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