Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the regeneration of rural Ireland? It should focus on the establishment of a partnership between community organisations on the ground and State policies. Rural areas underwent a major improvement in the period following the 1950s. This was very pleasing as it followed a period when people believed rural Ireland was virtually dead and beyond repair. It was only when we travelled abroad, particularly to the United States, and met some of those who emigrated in the 1940s and 1950s that we realised what a great loss these people had been to the country. Rural areas face a comparable threat again as the infrastructure of many areas is being decimated. While this issue was barely discussed for a number of years, most commentators now accept that we have a major problem.

Certain organisations drove regeneration in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Senators will be aware of many of the leaders and visionaries involved in these organisations. The Celtic tiger made us all a little soft, however, and many rural organisations were sidelined, weakened or ignored. Government policies will not work unless the spirit that prevailed at that time is rejuvenated in rural areas. This requires the creation of a partnership between rural areas and State policies. Small businesses and shops have closed in many small towns and villages and the emigration of hundreds of thousands of young people in recent years has left behind a sense of hopelessness. While I welcome the suggestion by the Taoiseach and his Ministers that the time has come for our young emigrants to return, we must admit that the number of jobs available would not be sufficient if they were all to do so.

I praise the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, for the manner in which he has reached out to emigrants. Given his background as a hero in Gaelic football and someone who comes from Listowel, which is the type of community to which I referred, the Minister of State has done good work.

Without action, we will continue to bemoan the manner in which rural areas have become fragmented. If we are not careful, we will see a return to the circumstances that prevailed in the 1940s and 1950s, although they will be somewhat different.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the creation of a partnership between the community spirit on the ground and Government policies. This would be a first step.