Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I urge that the model be put in place as quickly as possible. I appreciate that much work has been done and that it is important to get this right. It is welcome that the Minister is ensuring that this is being brought forward, because it is extremely important. We have seen the consequences of the failure to not look through this rural lens in respect of the north and north west, which is now a region that is no longer developed in the eyes of the EU. If rural-proofing had been in place, then perhaps we might have had a more balanced approach instead of these low investment figures for the north and north west. When the Minister talks about balanced regional development, we clearly do not have it. Alarm bells should be going off concerning the north and north west particularly. I appreciate that funding is now arriving and that work is under way. This is all welcome, but it shows the consequences of not having something like this in place. It is, therefore, so important that this model is put in place as quickly as possible. I hope we will see this happening next year.

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