Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 110 together.

My role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has involved setting the allocations for capital expenditure across a number of Department's relevant to this national strategic outcome. National strategic outcome No. 3 seeks to strengthen rural economies and communities. This applies in terms of the traditional pillars of the rural economy as well as those emerging from such developments as improved transport connectivity, national broadband delivery, climate action and rural economic development.

The sectoral strategies here include Our Rural Future, the town centre first policy, Food Vision 2030 in agriculture, the investing in our culture, language and heritage strategy, the Linking People and Places tourism strategy and the national sports policy. An extensive number of projects are already being rolled out through the €1 billion rural regeneration and development fund. Applications for funding have already been approved for 139 projects across rural Ireland with a total cost of €239 million. Examples include the Cahersiveen town centre regeneration project in Kerry and the Cahir town regeneration project in Tipperary.

In addition to maintaining the regional and local road network in good repair, it is a priority to carry out targeted improvements to sections of the network. The Carrigaline western relief road and the Coonagh to Knockalisheen project are under construction, while other projects where the main construction work is due to commence shortly include the Tralee northern relief road, the Shannon crossing-Killaloe bypass R494 upgrade and the Athy southern distributor road.

Under the national broadband plan, which commenced roll-out in 2020, 1.1 million people living and working in more than 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with almost 700 schools, will receive access to high-speed broadband. The on-farm capital investment scheme under Ireland's 2023-27 CAP strategic plan will provide significant support to farmers looking to invest in capital projects on their farms to increase environmental efficiency and develop their farm enterprises. Major capital investment projects of up to €180 million are under way and planned in fishery harbour centres around the country.

Investment in our international tourism marketing infrastructure also helps to stimulate business from overseas markets. This is critical when every 1,000 additional overseas tourists support 20 jobs in the domestic tourism industry, many of which are in rural Ireland. These are just some of the many investments across rural Ireland that are being scaled up under this new national development plan.

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