Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland's Hidden Heartlands has been launched for the midlands because it has a good tourism product. The people in the midlands need to sell it like the Wild Atlantic Way.

Senators Kieran O'Donnell and Byrne spoke about what is happening with the funding for local development. One sees pride in these local communities. They are not saying their areas are dying. They are saying their areas are alive and well and what they are looking for is more investment and a little more support - not 100% support - from the State. This will allow them to work with their communities to create the jobs they need to keep people living and working in rural Ireland.

Senator Byrne raised Food Wise 2025, which falls under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Minister, Deputy Creed, will give the Senator any information she needs on that.

We may be a small Department but we cover the community employment scheme, the rural recreation scheme, the Dormant Account Fund, libraries and other positive schemes. I will be launching the library strategy soon. There will be good news about that. The Dormant Account Fund targets disadvantaged areas, as does SICAP, the social inclusion and community activation plan.

I gave them much grief over the past year, but I must say the officials in my Department worked well under tremendous difficulty. It was a new Department with no offices. We set up offices and it is functioning now. We have set up a lot of schemes and paid out a lot of money. I want to mention on the record of the House the good work my Department’s officials did in difficult circumstances. It is a good Department with a new Secretary General, several new assistant secretaries and new staff. They are bright and intelligent people who are committed to the Department, to rural Ireland and to rural life. I am committed to rural Ireland, making sure we get the balance right, getting the broadband up and running and getting the jobs. My job in the Government is not about giving out funding but to make every other Minister accountable to rural Ireland. That is why the action plan is in place. It has all the commitments from the Departments, State agencies and local authorities to work together. I believe we have a bright future. We have bright people and a good rural Ireland. We need to build on the successes we have. Like every other place, it has gone through a difficult time but rural Ireland has a bright future. I am proud to be the Minister for Rural and Community Development. I will not be found wanting nor will my officials. I know with the Senators’ support and help that they will encourage more of our people to work and live in, as well as support, rural Ireland.