Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants available to the farming or rural communities through any aspect of funding from his Department towards the up-grading and refurbishment of out housing gate lodges and so on towards providing tourist facilities in rural areas for tourists involved in angling, walking or other such rural based recreation. [26507/07]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position of the rural enterprise development as promised in the Programme for Government; the areas that are proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26512/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 36 together.

The funding available for the delivery of LEADER-type activities under the new Rural Development Programme will almost treble from €150m for the 2000 — 06 period to €425.4m for the 2007 — 13 period. Key priorities under the new Programme will be supports for the development of rural enterprises, the continued development of the small food and craft sectors and countryside recreation.

The measures will be delivered through Axis 3 of the Programme and will aim to meet the key Programme objectives of improving the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy through:

Increasing economic activity and employment rates in the wider rural economy through encouraging on-farm diversification into non-agricultural activities;

Supporting the creation and development of micro-enterprises in the broader rural economy;

Encouraging rural tourism built on the sustainable development of Ireland's natural resources, cultural and natural heritage including product development, accommodation and marketing;

Improving the access to basic services by rural dwellers by, for example, addressing inadequate recreational facilities;

Regenerating villages and their surrounding areas by improving their economic prospects, and the quality of life; and

Maintaining, restoring and upgrading the natural and built heritage

The measures to be funded under the Programme will include the following:

Diversification into non-agricultural activities for farm families;

Support for business creation and development;

Encouragement of tourism activities;

Basic services for the economy and rural population;

Village renewal and development;

Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage; and

Training and information on adapted and new skills.

The Programme will be delivered at a local level through area-based groups. The Irish Programme was agreed by the European Commission on July 24th 2007 and it is planned that the selection process for the Groups to deliver the Programme will commence shortly.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on his address at the Galway Institute of Technology on 1 October 2007 on Adapting Regional Economies for Global Competitiveness, particularly in regard to views he expressed on infrastructural deficiencies in the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26497/07]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has undertaken an assessment on the possible implications for rural development in the west and mid western regions of the Aer Lingus decision to end its Shannon to Heathrow air service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26498/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 30 together.

I recently addressed two conferences on this issue, and am arranging to send the full text of both speeches to the Deputies, which clearly outline by views in relation to the question.

I addressed the Global Competitiveness Conference on 1 October 2007, as I have a passionate interest in balanced regional development.

Like all of my colleagues in Government, I was disappointed at the unilateral decision by Aer Lingus to move the London Heathrow slots to Belfast. My Department has not carried out an assessment of the implications of the announcement.