Bertie Ahern
Question:6 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the methods which are used by his Department to monitor progress in relation to western development, the islands and the six southern Border counties. [5812/97]
Ceisteanna — Questions. - Development Progress.
The recently established Western Development Commission will promote the economic and social regeneration of the western region and will work closely with and compliment the activities of the existing State agencies and local development groups working in the region. The indicators of stability in the west are reflected in the levels of population, employment and investment in the region. It will be a responsibility of the commission to focus on these indicators and to agree targets with the relevant agencies in respect of economic and social development. The commission will monitor progress and performance on these agreed targets and will bring the results to my attention. The commission's role in this regard will ensure that national and regional polices have a positive impact on the west.
The report of the Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Island Development, approved by Government last year, forms the basis of the Government's action on the economic and social development of our offshore islands. The report provides the framework within which the activities of Departments, State agencies, local authorities and local development organisations are monitored to ensure a focused approach to addressing island issues. Within this framework, Departments and State agencies can re-examine their existing policies as they affect island communities and can formulate new policies to meet particular needs. In addition, the co-ordinating committee liaises with the Interdepartmental Policy Committee on Local Development to ensure that a focus on island issues is maintained.
As chairman of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, I am responsible for ensuring a co-ordinated approach to the responses of the various Departments involved in improving the quality of life of offshore island communities. The development of access services and infrastructure on islands provides a clear indication of ongoing progress in this area of policy. Through the operation of the new mechanisms established at local level, responsibility for progress on islands' access and infrastructure is primarily a matter for the relevant local authorities.
The task force on funding arrangements in the Border region, which I chair, monitors the implementation of recommendations contained in the task force report agreed by Government last July. The task force's primary focus is on funding integration and co-ordination. Measures of progress in this area will be reflected in improvements in the quality and availability of information and staff training. The task force reported to Government recently on measures carried out to date.
Does the Minister accept that the islands and the Border region, which the Government acknowledged have not benefited from the economic boom, are special cases which require special attention? For example, the offshore islands deserve more attention than the mainland and similarly for the Border where it is acknowledged there have been huge job losses. My county had a net job loss of over 500 last year. Does the Minister accept that any attention paid to date, for example, the task force on funding arrangements, is cosmetic and does not constitute the special attention required to bring these areas up to the same standard of living as that enjoyed in Dublin?
This Government established my office to help offshore islands and islanders now have greater access. They unified themselves by starting their own organisation, Comhdháil Oileán na hÉireann. They now have access to both local authorities because of the special island committees set up and to my Department through the interdepartmental committee which monitors the distribution of funding available from my Department. There has been a significant increase and advance in life on the islands. We have also made special tax breaks available for people who want to build houses on the islands.
As far as the Border is concerned, there has been substantial communication between people who live there and local companies, whether through ADM or the Leader programme. In the next few days, an allocation of a further £5 million for small enterprises in the Border area will be announced. This injection of funding through the peace initiative will raise the standard of living of those in the area. I acknowledge that the area has suffered but funding was made available with the agreement of those who supplied it, such as the EU, the United States and Canada. The guidelines for the distribution of funds have finally been agreed and the elimination of social exclusion along the Border areas is advancing rapidly.
Does the Minister agree that if we are to monitor rural development we cannot do so without monitoring what is happening in our large urban areas where people pay £200,000 to £300,000 for a basic apartment? Most of these are mere matchboxes compared to what could be bought or built in rural Ireland with that amount of money.
My role is not directly involved with rural development but there is a problem with access to space. One problem is the cost of sites on islands. Some young island people who marry face horrific costs because of the huge increase in land values caused by people moving from urban areas and competing to purchase land and sites in convenient and beautiful areas in the west. I acknowledge that difficulty and have tried to encourage local authorities to build houses on the islands and in peripheral counties. This Government has invested substantially in local authority housing because it is one way we will address the marginalisation of rural people. I do not accept that people in rural Ireland are as downbeat as the Deputy has said. The rising tide is lifting all boats.