Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. There is no better individual to handle the rural and community development portfolio. It is extremely important that the new Cabinet includes a Minister with responsibility for rural and community development. To be honest, it is also important for us. In 2011 the Department of Finance was divided in two and we are now in a position to support rural communities which were falling off a cliff. The newly appointed Minister is a very much man steeped in rural communities. As such and having been a Minister of State, he is very much aware of and well briefed on the issues that have to be dealt with. I look forward to working with him to secure better outcomes for rural communities. The new Department will play an important role in delivering action within the context of the action plan for rural development that was launched recently.

As a young Senator from the west, I know that the main issue with which we are faced is unemployment. We need to see more young people return to the west. In that regard, councils are becoming more proactive to encourage parts of companies to establish in areas across the country. We know, from an IDA Ireland perspective, how difficult it is to encourage companies to set up in rural communities, but it is possible. I strongly encourage the new Minister to ensure companies that could relocate parts of their organisation to different parts of the country will be incentivised to do so. Let me give an example. The CUBE is a new hot desk facility that has been established in the new civic offices in Roscommon town. It offers high speed broadband which will allow people to live and work in rural areas, yet remain connected to a company in another part of the country or elsewhere in the world. It is an important initiative that supports job creation in rural areas. It is extremely positive that the unemployment rate has been reduced to 6.3%, according to the figures released for June. However, the challenges in providing employment in rural areas are great. As the Minister said, he will work closely with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Job creation will be the key priority because rural communities will find it difficult to survive without employment opportunities to attract and retain people.

The Minister is very aware of other issues such as broadband provision, which I mentioned. It is the single most impostant piece of infrastructure needed in rural areas. The delay in rolling out broadband is extremely disappointing and has left rural areas at a competitive disadvantage, which is not good enough.

The Minister is very familiar with the N5 route between Longford and Ballaghaderreen. The construction of the Ballaghaderreen bypass has been a positive move that has increased access to the west. The N5 upgrade must be part of the capital plan. Roads infrastructure must be provided to allow rural areas to compete fairly with other parts of the country.

The Minister alluded to the need to breathe life back into market town centres. On previous occasions he mentioned the importance of supporting towns and villages. Westport and other towns are doing well. I come from north Roscommon and believe the Minister in new role must focus on supporting towns and villages that need the most help.

I encourage the Minister to consider relocating his Department to the St. Brigid's Hospital site in Ballinasloe, County Galway. It measures 31 acres and the Department would act as a gateway to the west. Relocating it to Ballinasloe would demonstrate the Minister's strong commitment to the development of rural areas. The HSE owns the site following the closure of the psychiatric hospital a few years ago. The site is very accessible and relocating the Department to it would send an important signal to those living in rural areas.

This evening I will attend the launch of the Douglas Hyde conference near Frenchpark, County Roscommon, with the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne. The conference is an example of communities working well together. We have good success stories from the Brideswell Pattern Festival to the O'Carolan Harp Festival in Keadue. Such conferences, events and summer schools are rooted in rural Ireland, but they need to be supported properly.

I commend the Minister for the reopening of the CLÁR programme and the rural recreation scheme. Funding for rural areas has been increased, but we need more. The Minister has shown leadership in supporting rural areas and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.