Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to bring to the Minister's attention a project in Multyfarnham which, under the town and village scheme, was awarded €100,000. I was working with Councillor Emily Wallace and Councillor Frank McDermott regarding revising the project. The local authority has asked the Department for an extension to April 2021 because several environmental studies will have to be carried out to revise the project. We met with residents and discussed the different issues and because the project requires the bridge to be narrowed, it would not be feasible due to heavy agricultural machinery operating in the area. It is a big farming area and a tourism hotspot. We want to look at a different revised project that will not impact on the width of the bridge. I would be grateful if the Minister would look into the request to grant an extension, because it is a good and worthwhile project.

I acknowledge the great work the Minister has done in his Department. I refer to major schemes such as CLÁR, the rural regeneration scheme, local improvement scheme, town and village renewal scheme and urban regeneration scheme. If I look in my constituency, the footprint the Minister has created is evident from Kinnegad to Moate and from Emper into Mullingar. Those various schemes have delivered in every corner of the constituency. They are much appreciated by communities. As I recall, in the most recent budget the Minister was one of the only members of Cabinet who received an increase in his allocation. That money will allow him to get projects of this type, which really deliver for people and improve their quality of life, off the ground. We are working very hard in Kinnegad in trying to get the exciting project in question up and running. The initial design fee was approved by the Minister's Department. When I look at the smaller projects, I always think of Mullingar Sub Aqua Club, which got funding for its first responder vehicle under CLÁR. That was hugely appreciated by the club. The club does great voluntary work that was a way of thanking its members and showing them we value their input into and work for our community.

I really appreciate the good work the Minister has done and I hope he will be given the opportunity to continue with it. It is important to have a Minister in situwho understands the Department and what is required in rural Ireland. Despite some of the criticisms that can be heard in this House, the Minister really has rural Ireland at heart. He delivered in spades on the ground, if people look at the figures and the projects and talk to the communities.

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