There has been considerable progress in this regard since the initial concept was introduced. The initial concept was based on 15 areas, with 150,000 people. However, 16 areas have been chosen, including 285,000 people.
I want to discuss the issue in more detail with NUI, Maynooth, to find a more fair and transparent way of dealing with the matter. However, I must guard against extending the area so much that it would dissipate the effort in the areas that lost out. Sometimes people from populous and growing areas criticise the CLÁR programme because they think areas are getting too much. That is exactly what it is about, the more people give out the more I know we are succeeding. For the first time we are getting into small places like Aghabog and we are saying to the areas that are growing and strong that they cannot be included. This programme seeks to address the possibility of getting development and money into very small areas.
I will consider the question raised by the Deputy, that is, that there are islands of serious population loss. Up to now we said that 3,000 to 4,000 people would make up an area. However, I will again consider that figure. We have found in practice that it is easier to operate the scheme where the areas span county boundaries because the rest of the structures are county based. It is easier to operate on a county basis and I will take that aspect into account when I make my decision.