Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's tones are definitely positive, and that is to be welcomed, but what we are talking about here is intrinsic to so many other debates that happen in this House. The provision of sewerage provides for the ability of a village to grow and to have housing for people to come back to rural areas, for the local school to survive and for the local shop, the local pub and the post office network to be viable. This is intrinsic to so much. Then there are all the environmental reasons why Broadford, Cooraclare and many other villages should be included.

How many villages does the Minister know off-hand are within the panel report that has come before him? One concern we have in County Clare, which we have been pushing this for years and years, is that we have two excellent projects, both shovel-ready, Broadford and Cooraclare. If projects are good enough, shovel-ready enough, does the Minister intend that there could even be two approved in single county, or does he plan on getting this all around the country? He can announce it today-----

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