Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [18226/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs last met. [20443/17]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs has met since the formation of the current Government. [21839/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs has met; and when it next plans to meet. [21846/17]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs provides a whole of government approach to growth in the rural economy as well as supporting quality of life and local service delivery in the regions. In particular, the committee is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development.

The committee has met four times to date. It last met on the 12 December 2016 and is due to meet again later today. A monitoring group for the Action Plan for Rural Development, chaired by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, met on 23 March and will meet again on 20 July.

The committee will continue to oversee implementation of the plan, as well as considering specific policy issues of concern to rural Ireland

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is quite a long time ago, 12 December 2016.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Brexit took up my time.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach will know that the lack of quality infrastructure, including roads and broadband, is the biggest impediment facing people in rural Ireland. It is hampering growth and economic prosperity. If people are unable to access links or communications easily they cannot live and do business in rural Ireland and rural areas cannot grow.

The Taoiseach has described the urbanisation process, particularly of the greater Dublin region, with a consequent rise in rent, house prices, traffic gridlock and public order issues. No moves are being made to counter this, however. This view was echoed by the former chairperson of the Western Development Commission, Mr. Paddy McGuinness. He asked not to be considered for reappointment, stating: "I believe strongly that there is absolutely no commitment at either political or administrative level to balance regional development, nor is there any worthwhile plan to redress rural decline."

That is matched by a chronic lack of capital investment in infrastructure. The increase of €300 million in last year's budget was one tenth of what was recommended to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport just to repair the secondary road network. According to the Fiscal Advisory Council our infrastructure spend is the lowest in the EU.

The loss of rural post offices is causing significant concern. The programme for Government states that the Government will act swiftly on the recommendation of the post office business development group in advancing a new model of community banking. Can the Taoiseach tell us when this will happen?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is an important question. The document, Realising Our Potential in Rural Ireland, is a comprehensive statement on all the Departments and agencies covering the country outside the major urban centres. It does not just include isolated parts of rural Ireland but also covers the Irish language and investment in capital infrastructure.

The Deputy will be aware that there is a €42 billion capital programme to 2025, which is currently being reviewed. A number of major roads have to be finished, such as one to the northwest, including Sligo, and also to Limerick, Cork and a number of other areas. We also need to cater for future developments with the metro and the possibility of other light-rail systems in various parts of the country.

That is why in addition to all of that capital money, a European Investment Bank office has been opened in Dublin. They are now examining the feasibility of quite a number of major projects as to whether or not they can go ahead, on the basis that there will be an income stream to deal with the loan repayment requirements. That would remove a major section from normal Exchequer funds which would allow for that kind of development to take place.

The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, brought forward the final report of the post office hub working group to the Government. That recommended four pilot projects based on the share value and co-location model of post offices, the approval of which has been granted by the Government. While those projects have not yet been initiated, I expect they are now in the process of being considered.

As Deputy Adams is aware, everybody understands the importance of the national broadband plan. The Minister, Deputy Naughten's Department is very actively engaged in the procurement process for the provision of high-speed broadband services. The timeframe for roll-out depends on a number of factors, including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders during the process. A timeframe of three to five year is envisaged for the roll-out once contracts are in place. A detailed roll-out plan for the network, including a prioritisation programme to target areas of particularly poor service, areas with business needs and areas of high demand, will be published once the contracts are in place. Eir set out certain commitments under the agreement announced by the Minister, Deputy Naughten. It plans to provide broadband to an additional 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. It has committed to completing the roll-out over a 90 week period, passing an average of 500 premises per day. In line with the published agreement there are regular review meetings, the purpose of which is to monitor this roll-out to ensure Eir meets its obligations under the agreement. My understanding is that there will be penalties for Eir if it does not measure up to what it has already agreed, though I like to be updated regularly on the 500 premises that are passed every day. The roll-out for high-speed broadband is a necessary part of the programme.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I ask the Taoiseach whether any advance has been made in respect of the proposal made by myself and a number of other Deputies regarding the Luggala estate in County Wicklow. The Taoiseach may have heard a very nice programme on RTE on Sunday Morning. On "Sunday with Miriam" Garech de Brún and Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains were talking about the enormous role Luggala has played in the cultural history of Ireland over recent decades, from films being shot there to music being recorded there. The Guinness Trust has put the estate up for sale. It is interested in selling to the State. I understand the initial indicative price was quite high, but I think that is negotiable. A purchase would also allow Garech de Brún, in the context of all his contributions to Irish music and culture, to occasionally reside in the house but in particular would allow the State to acquire the 5,000 acres. The Taoiseach has just spoken about the expansion of Dublin. This is an amenity for the people of Leinster, but also for visitors to Ireland who are on the eastern side of the country. Thankfully we have many.

Has the Cabinet committee on regional and rural affairs had an opportunity to discuss Luggala? An initiative on the part of the Taoiseach to bring Luggala into public ownership would be a very historic achievement for him. It would make the Wicklow Mountains one of the biggest regional public parks and wild parks in Europe. It would be an enormous boon to the country's capacity to attract cyclists and walkers, which Luggala already does. If it was bought by private interests, a very significant part of Wicklow would potentially be closed off and become entirely private.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Cabinet sub-committee has not considered the question of the purchase of Luggala. I recall the Minister, Deputy Ring, making the comment that he would be interested in negotiating or discussing the possibility of a purchase of this estate. I have never been to Luggala. I have obviously seen the pictures of it.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has probably walked around it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I believe it is a magnificent house and location. The State acquired substantial grounds in that area for an expansion of the national park. Clearly when the Deputy makes her point she looks to the expansion of Dublin over the next 20 years. The Wicklow Mountains and the environment are going to be of particular importance like the Lake District is across the water, where very substantial numbers of people travel every weekend. Hopefully they observe the country code and leave nothing behind but their footprints. The State acquired another premises belonging to the Guinness Trust a number of years ago, Farmleigh, which is used extensively for everything from the Bloom festival to the country markets. The big house is available for heads of state who might stay there. I will take the Deputy's suggestion. I am quite sure that if the State were to announce that it had acquired this fine estate there would be people saying that the money should be spent on social housing. It is always about a balance.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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No, because there would be a lot of employment generated which would enable some of those people to buy their own houses.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is an important consideration. I will have Deputy Burton's view brought to the Minister and see if he is willing to continue on from his initial comment. I did not hear the programme that the Deputy mentioned, but I admire Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains. He seems to have been around forever and ever.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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John Boorman was there as well.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He seems to get better with every performance. Matt Molloy and all of the member of the Chieftains are wonderful ambassadors for the country.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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We will have to go to visit because it was said that it was daylight when they left the house after parties. I heard the programme too. Good Irish cultural music and heritage is important.

I asked how many times the Cabinet committee on regional and rural affairs has met since the formation of the Government. I am disappointed to hear the Taoiseach say that it has met four times last year and none this year. We are four and a half months into this year and that shows scant regard for the issues. The Taoiseach relied on many of my rural colleagues during those talks to form a Government that lasted for so many days last year. We pressed hard for a Minister and we expected a minister for rural affairs. What did we get? As I said the other night, we got the hind tit. We got a Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Rural affairs was tagged on. That was a major disappointment. In every aspect, we are failing the people of rural Ireland.

I see the Minister with responsibility for broadband has arrived. I want to ask him about the state of the tender process. On regional development, the Minister, Deputy Ring, had people looking at our post offices. When their report came out, what did the Minister, Deputy Ring, do? He did the greatest Pontius Pilate impression that was ever done in any church, never mind in any parliament. He washed his hands of it and handed it over, lock, stock and barrel, to the Minister, Deputy Naughten. It was a disgrace. It was two weeks before Holy Thursday. I could not get over it. I know he is a religious man but - my God - that was a bit fast. We are also losing out terribly with the spatial strategy.

On Bord na Móna, I am glad the Minister responsible is here. He abandoned us with a shot in the dark. He turned the lights off on it last Thursday evening. I actually heard about it in the Dáil at 1 p.m. and at 2 p.m. the plant in Littleton was switched off. It was there since the late 1940s. The Minister should have been more vigorous and understanding. He should sell the peat briquettes that are there at a low cost to get some money in the company and be innovative in ways of putting in other business there. We told the Government when the carbon tax was brought in, and when it was not being brought in in Northern Ireland, that the factories would close down and jobs would be lost. There was a direct effort by this Government to close down peat plants because of its carbon tax and the way it was forced through in the last Government. The Taoiseach is reaping the rewards. Rural Ireland is quickly becoming a desert and a wasteland. I want to know what the Taoiseach is going to do about it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We have published-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The Taoiseach publishes everything.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----our action plan for rural development, "Realising our Rural Potential". It is divided into five pillars. The first is about supporting sustainable communities and includes: making rural Ireland a better place to live in, enhancing local services, empowering local communities and building better communities. Pillar two is about supporting enterprise and employment and includes: growing and attracting enterprise, supporting sectoral growth, skills and innovation, supporting rural jobseekers and protecting incomes. Pillar three is about maximising our rural tourism and recreation potential and includes: supporting targeted rural tourism initiatives such as the Wild Atlantic Way, the midlands and lakelands district, Ireland's Ancient East; developing and promoting activity tourism and developing and promoting our natural and built heritage. The fourth pillar is about fostering culture and creativity in rural communities and arises from the evidence of the commemoration of 1916. This pillar includes increasing access to the arts in rural communities, enhancing culture and creativity in rural Ireland and promoting the Irish language as a key resource. The fifth point is about improving rural infrastructure. That includes the capital investment plan 2016-2021, the broadband and mobile phone access to which I have referred, rural transport and flood relief measures together with all the other issues that apply from the Common Agricultural Policy right through to every part of the country. This is the document. It is very comprehensive.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The Taoiseach should put it into practice.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not know whether Deputy McGrath has read it but I have covered a few subjects-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The Taoiseach should put it into practice.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----that would be of genuine interest to the people of Tipperary-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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They want action.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----from rural tourism to the beautiful mountains over which I have had the privilege of walking over the last number of years and opportunities to empower local communities to avail of small and medium enterprises, local jobs and local communities.

It is all contained in here, along with money to back it up. The question is making it happen.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Over the past five or six years, we have consistently raised the new pressures on rural Ireland and the regions and the degree to which large sections of the country have felt alienated from the centre and have not experienced the level of economic development that they could have had and that they need. It must be said that the proposed rural action plan is a damp squib. The plans for towns and villages are devoid of any concrete actions. In fact, the plan for towns basically calls on local communities to sort things out for themselves by using a brief planning guide. I heard the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation speak about steps one and two in an interview. People do not need that patronising guide on how to develop.

The threat Brexit poses to rural and provincial Ireland, particularly the agrifood industry, is of an entirely new scale. The bulk of merchandised goods exported to Great Britain are located in regions outside Dublin, as was pointed out in the ESRI and the Department of Finance reports. Again, if we look through the Article 50 document published, we do not find any new proposals or funding to help the worst impacted areas or industries. If we look at the equine industry, we can see that there has been no affirmative action by the Government. Tillage farming presented a perfect opportunity to do something early this year, but nothing was done for tillage farmers. We are blue in the face from hearing about broadband. The Taoiseach mentioned procurement. Has the tender been issued?

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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We are passing one house every minute every working day as we speak with 1,000 megabits per second.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Has the tender been issued?

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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It is not one process.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I recall meeting the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and officials along with the Independents 12 months ago. The single most important enabler of economic development is broadband and the tender has not yet been issued.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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It is happening.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The tender has not been issued. It has been going on for 12 months. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has been in office for a year. I am not going to blame him for it but surely collectively people need to realise the lack of urgency around all of this. We are being told the same thing year after year. I asked the officials last year not to promise me again it will be done by 2021. That was the scam before the previous general election. The previous Government said it would be done by 2021 - the whole lot covering every house in the country. The tender has not even been issued. Has the audit relating to mobile phones taken place?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We changed the legislation to deal with the provision of broadband between service providers. SIRO is the issue there. Eir does its work. I recall several Fianna Fáil Ministers in New York after they put Telecom Éireann on the Stock Exchange, the assets that were stripped and how it left urban and rural Ireland without any signal at all.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is on the back of this horse because we want to see broadband brought to rural Ireland once and for all, and by that I mean small town Ireland and everything else.

We have had discussions about Brexit and will have more, but one piece of the jigsaw is not clear yet. We have provided the European Council with a document containing all our priorities, but the Deputy knows we cannot investigate the detail of this until we get to a point where the first phase is dealt with, namely, the principles, modalities and the liabilities that apply. The second issue is the question of borders, with our Border being a case in point that every other country in Europe now understands. The third issue is the rights and reciprocal rights of Europeans living in the UK and vice versa. We have our own issue with the common travel area that has existed since 1922.

We will then move on to the future structure and framework of the UK with the EU. Central to that, as the Deputy is well aware, is the question of trade and how that will apply. We must figure out how we can have the closest possible relationship between Europe and the UK, and we will be on the European side here, given that the Single Market will be gone and we still do not know the British Government's view on tariffs or the customs union. That is where the problem and challenge will arise. We share the Deputy's view on this. The Government has set up a specific unit in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deal with the question of agrifood and drink exports to Great Britain, hedging forward and support for small and medium enterprises. We are well aware of the drop of €500 million in real value terms over six months because of currency fluctuations, so the Government is very interested in this. We have 100 trade missions abroad this year to increase sales of our products in other countries. I have just come back from Canada where I spoke about elements of that.

The Deputy mentioned the equine industry. It is a case in point and he is perfectly right. Those who train horses to that level do not want to have delays and to be weighed down by an inordinate amount of bureaucracy. Clearly, in respect of stud farms North and South, our relationship with the British racing industry is very close. English horses race here and win sometimes while Irish horses race in England and win more often. That industry has the potential to deliver €2 billion to the Exchequer every year. It is and will continue to be strongly supported by the Government. These are issues we must take into account in real detail when those negotiations begin.