Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I support my friend and colleague, Senator Scanlon, in his plea for consideration to be given to extending the rural renewal scheme, not in terms of fresh applications but to complete works under way. It would be a pity having come this far and taken so much trouble that schemes would not be completed for reasons outside the control of builders, such as lack of workers, resources or whatever. I echo what Senator Scanlon said about his experience in Leitrim County Council which up to the end of December received 800 applications and expects to have them all completed and through the system by the end of this month in order to permit those who are building to carry on. That figure is astonishing. I do not have the average statistics for Leitrim but figures would not normally have reached 800 over five years, never mind one year. It is an indication of the success of the scheme.

I rarely like to engage in political points scoring in this House or outside it. However, when it becomes slightly personal, or one knows the person who is the target of a political charge, it is incumbent to set the record straight, as Senator Scanlon said, in his own experience of where he comes from. In my experience, Deputy Harney, whom I know well for a long time, could be accused of many things politically but inside or outside this House she should not be accused of lacking compassion and humanity. They are among the many qualities she has brought to bear and I am sure her party colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, will have an opportunity in his own way to rebut allegations which are exaggerated.

I could not believe, nor will I ever accept, that Deputy Harney as Minister for Health and Children or in her private capacity would go into an accident and emergency wing of any hospital and turn to a coterie of photographers who are there purely for a photocall. That accusation does her a great disservice and demeans the person who made the charge. I am sorry he is not here. I have great respect for him and I appreciate that he was making political charges to which I am sure the Minister of State will respond in his own inimitable manner.

I will make a plea regarding the Appropriation Act 2005. We are hoping that before too long there will be a Department of Agriculture and Food office in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. I know it has been the bane of the life of the Minister of State who has been approached not by myself but by several of my Oireachtas colleagues of all parties over the past few years. It is frustrating that according to the latest information I have, Leitrim County Council wrote to the Office of Public Works several weeks ago asking it to provide further information. That information has not been provided to date. I would be grateful if the Minister of State would use his good offices to ensure that at least some clarity was brought to the issue by way of a response.

I appreciate that by their nature, Departments move slowly but this has now become a political football in my county. It is being used by those who for reasons best known to themselves are making charges and allegations that this represents a Government fudge. A Fine Gael councillor has alleged that no Government action would be taken and he will repeat that allegation until he sees the light. I hope that in the interests of clarity, the Minster of State will take a personal interest in the matter to ensure the planning process goes smoothly so we can then fight whatever battle comes next. I would hate to think the matter would be continually clogged up by red tape and bureaucracy.

I am glad that Senator Scanlon raised the following matter. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, has provided a lifeline for the people of the west of Ireland in his ministerial portfolio. The CLÁR initiative which he introduced has proven to be one of the greatest advances for the west of Ireland, the midlands and all the other parts of the country designated as CLÁR areas. It was a stroke of genius, a simple but very effective concept to focus limited resources on areas of greatest need. Not only has the financial injection to those areas proven to be beneficial but as Senator Scanlon will testify, the initiative has had a psychological impact on those rural communities which felt neglected for so long.

I regularly refer to an experience I had early on in the CLÁR programme when I attended the opening of a bridge over a river in a rural part of County Leitrim at the back end of Ballinamore. In national terms it meant nothing but people living on both sides of that river took great pride in it. Previously they had to travel three to four miles to cross the river because the old bridge was rickety and unsafe, and could not be used by modern traffic or farm machinery. The people took great pride that day when they saw that state-of-the-art bridge. It was nothing more than a bridge but it brought great pride to that community and a sense of belonging to a community previously divided by that rickety old bridge which was there since Famine times. No doubt there are many other examples of the CLÁR programme and how it has worked but that one sticks in my mind.

I also urge Deputy Parlon in his capacity as a Minister of State at the Department of Finance to support efforts being made to develop better infrastructure in the BMW region, of which his constituency is a part. I know this matter is close to his heart and that I am pushing an open door. However, there are persistent nagging doubts that somehow, somebody has a bag of money in Merrion Square and is not quite releasing it in the way intended in terms of the Objective One in transition status.