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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 5

Ceisteanna – Questions. Priority Questions. - Designated Areas.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

4 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has satisfied himself that the community and rural structures are getting their fair share of Government funds in view of the very low investment in the BMW region compared to the southern and eastern region; his views on whether, as long as infrastructure is ignored in the BMW region, it would be difficult to attract and sustain industry and therefore employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28695/03]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Deputy Rabbitte on 21 October regarding the concerns expressed about expenditure under the operational programme of the BMW regional assembly. I said then that the BMW regional assembly had pointed out that the €644 million shortfall was based on expenditure to date, relative to the original indicative forecasts set out in the regional operational programme in 2000. It is important to set this figure in context to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.

There were a number of unavoidable delays in getting some measures up and running. These included the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 which was followed by severe weather conditions which restricted progress in on-farm investment schemes while delays in State aid approvals affected tourism measures, waste management and some on-farm investment schemes. The broadband measure was hampered by difficulties in the IT sector. Administrative delays and tight budgetary conditions were responsible for limited delays in a number of areas.

In contrast, several measures are performing very well. Local authority expenditure on non-national roads is ahead of target. Other measures performing well are county enterprise boards, fishery harbours infrastructure, Teagasc advisory services and the local development programmes.

The fishery harbours measure includes both Gaeltacht and island harbour infrastructure. While the focus for fishery harbours generally is in respect of fishing catches and quotas, the overlying rationale for my Department's investment is mainly for the purpose of providing basic access to the islands in line with stated Government policy. While there have been delays in commencing some measures, it is still anticipated that these measures will spend their full allocation by 2006.

I understand much of the underspend money relates to projects which have been approved and are in progress across various measures but for which no funding had been paid out at the end of December 2002. I share these concerns about the underspend and while a number of the programmes do not come within my Department's remit, I will keep the issue under review during the remaining period of the NDP. The development of infrastructure is vital to balanced regional development.

Under the community development support programmes, my Department assists local self-help and community development initiatives targeted at disadvantaged communities in both rural and urban communities nationwide. In the BMW region a total of 56 community based projects are in receipt of funding. This includes six new projects which came on-stream with effect from September 2003, in line with my Department's ongoing commitment to the BMW region. The annual investment in the region under the community development support programmes comes to €6.4 million.

Both the BMW and southern and eastern regions are covered by Gaeltacht schemes pertaining to strategic non-national roads, strategic piers and village renewal. Expenditure on strategic roads and village renewal is on target in both regions to date.

The CLÁR programme covers most of the BMW region. Of the 361,901 who live in CLÁR areas, 249,937 live in the BMW region. The only BMW counties not in the CLÁR programme are Laois and Offaly. The measures in the programme support physical, economic and social infrastructure in the targeted areas.

Can the Minister honestly say he is safeguarding the needs of rural Ireland and community groups, in general? He referred to an increase in this year's budget for the CLÁR programme. The reality is that its budget has been decreased by €3.4 million since the election year. That is a fact. He has also increased the size of the area in which it operates. I want it increased further. I do not apologise for saying that some areas are included that should not be.

I would love to be able to do it.

The budget is down. The Minister referred to a sum of €644 million that had not been spent. The foot and mouth disease outbreak affected the entire country but it appears to have dramatically impacted on the amount being spent in the BMW area. Let us take as examples the N2 and N3, where thankfully the Carrickmacross bypass has started but there is no word whatsoever of the Castleblaney bypass.

A question, please.

What is the Minister doing? I have letters written on behalf of 16 community development groups in Dublin, which I know he received. Their main problem is that he will not tell them if they can remain in existence. Where is the openness, transparency and accountability? They have received messages through the grapevine that the budget will be cut by 1%, 7% and 20%. They do not know what will happen.

The Dóchas for Women group in Monaghan contacted me to find out what was happening to the Triskele group which the Minister met when he was in Carrickmacross. People do not know whether it can continue to exist and want to find out. The group has been told that funding may run out by February.

The Minister referred to the CLÁR programme—

I am sorry but this sounds like a Second Stage speech. The Deputy asked a number of questions of the Minister. Perhaps he will give him a chance to reply. There is a time limit on questions and I would not like it if no time was available for the Deputy to receive an answer.

I want to ask the Minister a straight question on CLÁR. He promoted a school playground facility when he was in Monaghan. The task of finding out how many suitable schools were located in the area was assigned to the Leader programme. That happened last July. Can this project hope to get funding?

I have good news on that one. It will be rolling out very soon. The Deputy can go home and tell people he got good news from me today. The delay was due to some of the forms not being filled out correctly but we are going ahead with the ones that were.

I am a little surprised at the Deputy's question about the BMW region underspend. He then made a case for more funding for 16 groups in Dublin, in the southern and eastern region. I did not think Dublin had been transferred to the BMW region.

I only made that point at the request of the 16 groups concerned.

Please allow the Minister to answer the question.

I have a question for the Deputy in return. What does he want me to do – to hurry the spend in the BMW or the southern and eastern region?

Fine. The question seemed to be focused more on the BMW region. Therefore, let us focus on it.

I fully accept that at half-time in this match we are a long way behind. I make no bones about this. We are a long way behind because of the reasons I outlined. We are also behind with some of the major projects and the major spend on roads. As I said time and again, the objective of Government has to be to fulfil the terms of the national development plan. This will place a huge obligation in the next three years on the likes of the NRA particularly to catch up and achieve the projected spend in the BMW region. I am a year in government as Minister with responsibility for the west, the BMW region and so on. As the Deputy knows, the planning of roads is a three to four year process. One cannot expect, therefore, to turn it around in six months.

I am committed to ensuring that the indicative figures in the Border, midlands and western region are achieved as far as possible under the various headings. If necessary, there will have to be adjustments among headings. We need the infrastructure. The Deputy can rest assured that my Department was established to ensure there was a Cabinet Member with responsibility across the areas involved who could constantly harp on these particular needs.

The Minister referred to Teagasc, which has had its budget cut.

We have already spent more than seven minutes on this question. Had I called time, the Minister would not have been able to reply to the Deputy.

The BMW region certainly needs more time.

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