Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that a new scheme been announced with regard to that and the deadline for applications is 26 February. I will ask the Minister to correspond with the Deputy about the details, however. I take on board what the Deputy said about the challenges facing many people in terms of accessing funding for this over the years. The Government has been in office just over six months and has identified investment in rural Ireland as a key priority. That is clear in the programme for Government, particularly in terms of renewing our regional towns and villages and creating hubs of sustainable development. Road infrastructure and investment in roads is key to that as well as the overall issues of infrastructure from broadband to wastewater infrastructure and so forth.

We will be creating opportunities for local involvement in terms of development in rural communities. The additional capital funding was provided this year through the Department in almost every area including road building, particularly minor roads. We will do whatever we can to assist rural communities in County Kerry and across the country to have a faster acceleration and implementation of that programme for the people involved who have been waiting a considerable time to have funding sanctioned. I will pursue that issue with the Minister and revert to the Deputy.

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