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

I agree with the Deputy. We need to move in terms of our towns first policy and in terms of rural development, and also, in my view, where we can, to incentivise people to reinvest or invest in buildings that are dilapidated or vacant, both for residential and entrepreneurial activities. It is something the Government is committed to. The key issue is to co-ordinate departmental work on rural development with the grants that are available, with broadband issues and with the creation of hubs in terms of entrepreneurship. That is something the economic recovery plan focuses on. Last year's July stimulus provided a lot of money for that as well, so we want to see that following through.

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