Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I was going to say, a Cheann Comhairle, one would want to be a very brave man or woman in this House to take on that woman after that. I will certainly not be standing up and having a go at her based on that because all my projects to which I will refer to will probably go up in flames.

I want to acknowledge the role the Minister has played in my constituency. I thank her on behalf of the constituency. I even want to thank her on behalf of the people who castigate her in this House because they always arse their way into a photograph when she is visiting and claim credit for something they had nothing at all to do with.

In that context, between the town and village scheme, outdoor recreation, rural regeneration and the CLÁR programme, more than €11.5 million has been given to projects in places like Glen Rua, Athea, Oola, Templeglantine, Newcastle West and other places. However, the Minister's Department is not the only Department dealing with rural Ireland. My Department, the Office of Public Works, OPW, agus an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus na Meán freisin have a very important role in this. Previous Deputies referred to what was not going on in their constituencies. They should refer to the stuff goes on in their constituencies as well because the towns of Bandon and Clonakilty in west Cork, for instance, and Ennis have all been protected in the last number of years since I was appointed Minister of State. That has been completed, and since 2020, 2,350 properties in this country have been protected from flooding, with a further number of properties to be protected in places like Glashaboy, Springfield, Whitechurch, Cois Abhainn in County Mayo and elsewhere.

Deputies from all over the country and all sides of the House always come to me with regard to minor works. The Office of Public Works has allocated more than €10 million to local authorities for small projects everywhere. I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for his positive comments with regard to the Office of Public Works during his contribution. That makes an awful difference in the lives of people all over the country.

In addition, we work with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys's Department with regard to former Garda stations, for instance. I will give Deputies an indication of some of the ones we have put to use through funding we received from the Minister. Ballinskelligs is now being used by Coiste Forbartha na Sceilge. Mulranny in County Mayo is being used by Mulranny community futures association. Toormakeady in County Mayo is being used for Forbartha Thuar Mhic Éadaigh Teo. Beaufort in County Kerry is being used by the community council and there are a number of others being used as well. Deputy Feighan who was in the Chamber a while ago, and I would like mention Dromahaire and Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim. I acknowledge and thank those local authorities we have worked with in that respect.

In the context of our visitor heritage attractions, again, we worked with the Department of Rural and Community Development on this. Last year, 15 million people visited OPW heritage sites across the country. These are not located in Dublin. They are located all over the country. Deputies come to me every day to ask for further investment. An example of that was last year when we finished a €3 million investment in the Blaskets in County Kerry. There was €2.6 million for the Céide Fields in Ballycastle in County Mayo and €700,000 for Roscrea Castle in County Tipperary, which will open shortly.

Maidir le mo ról mar Aire Stáit ag an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, beidh mé i gCathair Saidhbhín amárach agus beidh plean teanga an bhaile á chur in iúl ag an am sin. Beidh suas le €80,000 á cheadú agam sa bhaile. Mar shampla eile, beidh suas le €130,000 ag dul don Chumann Lúthchleas Gael i nGaoth Dobhair i nDún na nGall.

These are just small examples of the work we are doing in the Office of Public Works and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with Údarás na Gaeltachta. People like Deputy Connolly will be very familiar with the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta. I acknowledge the very positive words she said previously around the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta, but that can only be done in conjunction with work on which the Department of Rural and Community Development is leading.

Everybody here claims to represent a rural constituency. I have news for people in this Chamber. I represent the most rural because the largest town in my constituency has 7,000 people. The constituency is approximately 70 miles wide. We do not have a big city even though we are near Limerick. We have a very disparate population base.

I have been a public representative for 20 years and, as Deputy Feighan said a while ago, we used to be begging for money from Government Departments to do small projects. Now, it is clearly stated that it is first up, best dressed. It is up to local authorities and local authority members, in principle, to get projects animated, so that the Minister can fund them.

The Minister is an excellent colleague and someone I really appreciate working beside. I would caution those Deputies who say that rural Ireland has nothing other than problems. I live very happily in a very rural constituency and in a very rural community, and I am embedded in it. It really breaks my heart when I hear people running it down in this Chamber rather than coming up with ideas that would work and that would be far better for them and for the people they claim to represent.

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