Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the Pobal deprivation index report that was published. The Government has created the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Minister, Deputy Ring, is the first Minister at Cabinet with responsibility to respond to the challenges facing rural Ireland and to ensure that the recovery that is happening affects the four corners of the country. The Government is investing in a variety of means and mechanisms to improve the lives of people in towns and villages in rural areas and the rural renewal scheme and the town and rural recreation programme will see benefit in the rural areas. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss the matter that Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised.

Equally, it is important to put on record that the budget for the town and village scheme for this year has doubled to €21.6 million. The Department of Rural and Community Development received the second highest percentage increase, 12%, of any Department in the budget. The Pobal deprivation index enables us to effectively target resources and services at the most disadvantaged. It is vital that we act upon the deprivation index report in order that Departments and State agencies can be seen to work in rural areas beyond, as Senator Gallagher stated, the M50. That means that, for example, the RAPID programme, which the Ministers, Deputies Ring and Donohoe, launched last week, will be targeted to ensure that those who most need it in deprived communities will receive the support.

There has been a 41% recovery since 2011 in terms of affluence.