Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I will give the Minister the evidence. I understand that the north and the west of this island have been downgraded to lagging region status under the Government. That is an incredible assessment from the European Union in relation to what the north and the west are undergoing at the moment. I am referring to the agreement that has unlocked funding through the bloc's cohesion policy. I have asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether he will confirm that the two regions have been downgraded or to release the relevant document to me. However, he has point-blank refused to do so.

This is very important. I also understand that these regions, which include the Minister's county, have been ranked at 177 out of 240 European regions. That is a damning indictment of the policy that this Government is involved in. Those areas, in European terms, are seeing a reduction in the level of development and competition that happens there. When the Government gives grants and make communities dependent for €10,000 here or there, that does not lift their viability for families to be able to earn an income and raise children there and young people to able to stay there and do exactly the same.

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