I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, for attending the House to respond to the need to extend the rural renewal scheme beyond December 2004.
The rural renewal scheme was introduced in the upper Shannon area covering areas in counties Cavan, Sligo, Roscommon and all of counties Leitrim and Longford principally because these areas had suffered particular social and economic problems in the preceding decades.
We must first acknowledge the foresight of the Minister in introducing and developing this scheme with the intention of redressing the imbalance arising from the social and economic deficits to which I referred. We must also acknowledge the considerable progress that has been made in redressing this imbalance over the past three years in particular.
Despite the best efforts of all organisations involved, the job is only half done, and we should not discontinue a scheme with a proven track record and with the potential to fill the majority of remaining deficits in the areas which it covers.
I appreciate that the scheme has already run for a considerable period and that most parties interested in availing of its benefits should have done so already. However, there have been particular problems which have mitigated against all of the potential being achieved to date. These include a simple lack of awareness among those in the most disadvantaged areas as to the benefits of the scheme and how these benefits could be channelled to their assistance. There is greater awareness now as a result of the efforts of county councils and other agencies. The continuation of the scheme for a further period would permit these latecomers to avail of the scheme's benefits.
It is an objective of the national spatial strategy to achieve more balanced regional and inter-regional development. In many cases, the tools to achieve this are being developed or are yet to be developed. The rural renewal scheme is a tool already developed, with a track record of achievement and an ability to deliver significantly more in the future. We must recognise its success, accept its potential and use it in the achievement of a key objective of the national spatial strategy.
Many families and business people have paced their proposals on the assumption of a reasonably smooth transition in the application of the processes necessary for plan approval. Unfortunately, the time that passed when difficulties arose or planning appeals were lodged means they cannot meet the timeframes of the existing scheme deadlines. This legitimate problem should warrant an extension of the scheme.
The significant amount of Government funding made available to various local authorities in the rural renewal scheme areas in the past five years in particular has enabled the provision of new infrastructure capacity for development that would not have been approved a short time ago. Having regard to the principles of sustainability, best use of resources and infrastructure and the consequential potential to fill a deficit in community development, this infrastructure should be used for the extension of the rural renewal scheme.
A number of local authorities in the relevant areas have recently reviewed or renewed their development plans. These reviewed plans make necessary provision to control areas of complaint that have arisen and were in my opinion unfairly attributed to the rural renewal scheme. I said earlier that the renewed and reviewed development plans have dealt adequately with this problem.
Most of the areas to which this scheme applies have suffered severe population drain over the last 70 to 80 years. Statistics recently produced under the CLÁR programme point to many of the areas in the rural renewal scheme having lost up to 55% of their population from 1926 to 2002. To say that the scheme is promoting unsustainable patterns of rural development is unsupportable. If we look at sustainability in its most understandable form, we should look at the use being made of existing infrastructure such as schools, churches, shops, post offices, community halls, health services and so on, and ensure that there are sufficient people living in any community and making full, cost-effective use of services already there and paid for by the taxpayer. To take this on to the sporting field, many parishes in the rural renewal scheme areas would not be able to muster sufficient bodies to field a football team. We know that in certain areas of County Cavan.
I know that my Fianna Fáil Oireachtas colleagues in counties Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Sligo and Roscommon support the extension of the scheme, and many Fianna Fáil councillors have consistently highlighted its value and asked me to urge the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, the Minister of State and the Government to grant this time extension which will be warmly welcomed in these areas.
Let us not stop when the job is half done. I urge the Minister of State to extend the rural renewal scheme beyond December 2004.