Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with what Deputy Bruton said about the rural divide in this House or that people portray it as a rural divide. I wish to put on the record that since 2020 up to 2023, more than €40 million has been delivered to my constituency from the Minister, Deputy Humphreys', Department. That is in every constituency and every county and town and village in this country. Listening to some of the people on the opposite side of the Chamber, you would swear rural Ireland was on its knees with nothing happening, no investment or nothing whereas it is quite the opposite.

I want to focus on our small villages throughout the country that are such an important hub and part of the fabric of rural Ireland and our communities. I know the Minister of State and his Department are very much part and parcel of the town and village renewal scheme. That has done so much good in rural villages right over recent years. Communities can avail of up to €100,000. They would sell a lot of raffle tickets to get in €100,000. The goodwill that brings into a rural community is unbelievable. It gets a whole community together. It gets people talking and working together. That is what rural Ireland is all about and that is important.

I will impress upon the Minister of State one issue. His Department is doing so much good work through the local authorities, but I really believe he should have more roadshows coming out of his Department to sell what the Department has been doing and the investment into rural Ireland, and tell people and communities what is available in grant aid and what can be drawn down for their communities through the local authorities. Never did I think since being a Member of this House for more than 21 years - heading on for 22 years - that I would have seen such money being invested in rural Ireland. The amount of money that is being invested is phenomenal. However, I do want to harp on about the town and village renewal schemes. The Minister of State might perhaps consider, in conjunction with the local authorities, having information evenings for different counties, maybe as a pilot programme, to show what is available to bring communities and people together. That is what rural Ireland is all about.

Deputy Sherlock spoke about dereliction and derelict buildings. That is something I feel very strongly about. There are a huge number of rural derelict buildings for different reasons. They could be above shops in rural Ireland, for example. I know there are different funding models now to draw down through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I congratulate the Minister of State and his Department. I want to touch on the rural regeneration development fund and the money he has given to New Ross. I asked the Minister of State to come down and turn the sod on that. I ask him again to consider coming to New Ross to turn the sod and show the commitment from his Department.

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