Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

This is a timely discussion on the work of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and on rural areas and on the people who live there. One of the best schemes the Minister introduced was the CLÁR programme, which focused on areas that had suffered from population decline. He outlined the facts and figures to support his case. CLÁR was able to help areas and other schemes already in existence.

I was interested in region ten, described in the CLÁR programme as north Galway, east Mayo and north-west Roscommon. In recent years, people in north Galway have found that the CLÁR programme, through the Minister's Department, has been of great assistance in regard to schemes already in existence – for example, sewerage and water schemes – and where sports capital grants were sought. I am glad the Minister announced recently that other areas will be included in the CLÁR programme. This is most welcome in areas where population levels have fallen.

In the past, the Minister placed great emphasis on education and on small schools in rural areas. There were a number of one-teacher schools in County Galway which were in danger of closing. The Minister, in conjunction with the former Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, put forward a proposal to provide a minimum of two teachers to these schools which now have remedial and resource teachers and, through the FÁS programme, they had learning support teachers in the past. This has been of great benefit. We should look at other ways in which schools may be used. Many people have asked me why should a school close at 3 p.m. There are other uses to which schools could be put, including studying, child care and so on, and I hope the Minister will take that on board.

I am concerned about the postal service in rural areas, a matter about which I spoke to the Minister last week. It is difficult to know what constitutes a post office. In parts of Galway, post offices have been turned into agencies. It transpires that one cannot register a letter in an agency post office and, therefore, if a farmer wants to send off an area aid form he or she cannot do so in certain areas. Students who want to fill in CAO forms, which are important for those who wish to go to university, cannot do so at agency post offices.

To confuse matters further, PostPoint, which allows people to pay bills and top up mobile phones, is not a post office, nor is it advertised as a post office. However, many supermarkets and big shops are availing of PostPoint. More importantly, if a post office closes, an advertisement is no longer placed in the newspaper seeking someone to take over the new service. These are important issues which must be addressed.