Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on his re-appointment as Minister. A perception exists in certain circles that rural Ireland is akin to a pristine wilderness that is to be used at weekends and for holidays. However, Members must acknowledge — as does the Minister — that rural Ireland is a place in which people live. Senator Ó Murchú stated that one third of our population lives in rural Ireland and I agree with him. I am one of those who were born in rural Ireland and who went off to the city to enjoy themselves for ten years or so but who always wanted to return to rural Ireland. One of my inspirations and reasons for becoming involved in politics was to help the lot of rural Ireland by trying to improve and develop it.

I believe the rural development programme, the Leader approach and the CLÁR programmes are helping to address the economic needs and issues in rural Ireland. The allocation of €5 billion alone over the next seven years, of which €2.5 billion will come from the European agricultural fund for rural development, shows the commitment of the Government and the Fianna Fáil Party to the preservation and development of rural Ireland. The relevant schemes have been mentioned, including the diversification of projects, micro-enterprises and farm shops. Farm produce is becoming highly popular and marts are coming back into fashion as people seek more organic produce grown closer to their doorsteps. They know where such produce comes from through local branding, etc. While this is highly important, there is a certain degree of elitism in that. I do not know the reason because I go to my local farm shop and find it to be cheaper than some of the bigger supermarkets and the produce is fresher. Consequently, I do not know the reason this is an elitist matter.

The 12 rural recreation officers that the Minister intends to appoint in respect of rural walkways constitutes an excellent initiative. I ask him to consider the coastline in County Wexford because it is possible to walk from Wexford town to parts of the Hook Peninsula. No coastline walk was included in the aforementioned walkways and this would be a perfect locate in which to place one.

I acknowledge the enormous commitment of the Government towards the development of rural Ireland. However, consideration must be given to curbing its social decline and this must become a priority. As speakers have noted, we are lacking proper planning and development. As the previous speaker observed, in schools that are five miles apart, one has pupils in prefabs while the other is crying out for teachers. This demonstrates serious problems in our planning and development systems. I believe that many of our planners are educated under the English system and consequently, as has been mentioned, they look at the pristine wilderness in which at weekends, there is shooting of rabbits, hunting etc. and coming down from the cities. People who live in the cities have idyllic homes in rural Ireland that they can use at weekends. However, people from the area in question are unable to get housing.

I went to school in Our Lady's Island, which is in the extreme south-eastern corner of Ireland. The principal of the local school, who happens to be my mother, is heartbroken that children in her locality who attended school there must go to bigger areas, such as Kilrane or Bridgetown, where sewerage systems are available. No progress will be made until the issue of sewerage is considered, perhaps involving grouping and clustering sewerage schemes in rural Ireland because An Taisce will object to one-off housing. Moreover, it now appears the pastime of the fisheries boards is to object to every discharge licence that enters a stream. In some parts of Ireland, the soils do not percolate, which gives rise to a problem that must be addressed.

Social housing policy appears to place houses in certain parts of rural Ireland. This gives rise to the position in which one local school is placed under pressure while another does not attract pupils. Localities in which people seek affordable and social housing or which have a local area plan appear to be blossoming and are under serious pressure — even school transport is under pressure from that perspective — while other areas are falling off.

Planners and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government must plan this issue properly and must assess the present position. Sewerage schemes, water mains supply etc. must be brought to rural areas. Under Part V of the Planning and Development Act, which pertains to financial contributions given by builders, etc., the moneys have been directed to a fund for building footpaths, etc., in rural areas and in towns. In general, such amenities were placed in the areas in which building was taking place. However, I am aware of a Supreme Court decision on this issue, which is questionable in itself. This money is no longer there and the funds have dried up because of the present climate. Some form of bridge must be considered to assist local authorities over the next couple of years, while waiting for building activity to pick up again. Perhaps there could be an individual fund for footpaths etc. As a young mother——