Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith linne i Sinn Féin chomh maith a bheith luaite leis na focla comhbhróin maidir le bás Anthony Foley, laoch rugbaí agus fear nach mbeidh a leithéid arís ann, de réir gach cosúlachta. On behalf of the Sinn Féin group, we would like to be linked with the sympathies that are being conveyed to the family and friends of Anthony Foley who was a hero on and off the pitch. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I commend Irish Rural Link who presented with us a report earlier entitled, Poverty and Social Inclusion - the Case for Rural Ireland. It is new research but it builds on previous research, which shows, statistically, that if there is a recovery, it is very much a two-tier recovery and rural Ireland is not feeling the recovery in the same way as urban areas. This builds on work done by Social Justice Ireland, the Vincentian Partnership etc. The report demonstrates that the poverty rate is much higher in the Border, midlands and west regions, in particular, with one in five people experiencing rural poverty, half of whom experience it on an ongoing basis. The report also highlights farm poverty, fuel and energy poverty and issues relating to services for women and children in rural Ireland and social inclusion. It is an important report which we should debate. In the context of fuel and energy policy, the greater cost of buying fuel in a rural area is highlighted because of transport costs etc.

The other House is debating bogs again. That happens to coincide with letters that have been sent to turf cutters in Connemara who had been told they would be allowed to continue in the traditional manner but are now being told they will have to pay for environmental impact statements to be done if they are to continue. I would like a debate with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Humphreys, about turf cutting and these designations. Irish Rural Link noted that it has been trying to secure a meeting with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, about rural transport. It is a serious issue and perhaps the Minister could be invited to the House in due course to discuss the issue and what his Department intends to do to make sure rural services are improved and expanded and made more viable for people living in rural areas.