Desmond J. O'Malley
Ceist:2 Mr. O'Malley asked the Taoiseach if he has received a report on rural development from the NESC; and, if so, when he intends to publish it. [3509/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Development.
The report was published this morning by the NESC, having been considered by the Government. The text of a Government statement on the report, and of a statement which I have issued as Minister of State with responsibility for western development and rural renewal have been placed in the Dáil Library.
I am glad the report has been published but I suppose it is indicative of the way the Dáil is treated that a statement is made — even though the report was published today — outside the Dáil and that the Minister of State is not prepared to say anything about it here even though asked a direct question about it, which is regrettable. Will the recommendations in this report be taken into account, for example, in the formulation of policy in the new Leader programme?
The question asked was not whether the Government had an opinion on the matter; rather if the Taoiseach received a report on rural development from the NESC; and, if so, when he intends to publish it. I answered that question. As far as the intentions of the Government are concerned, the Government will devise a pilot programme for public services which will be established and monitored by me. This programme will implement the NESC recommendation that innovative approaches to delivery of services in rural areas should be explored. The Government is also committed to reform of the system of local government to render it more a vehicle for rural development. A statement of Government policy on this will be issued by the end of April next. Various Ministers, and relevant Departments, will assess the recommendations in this detailed informative report.
I could hardly have asked the Taoiseach or Minister of State to comment on something that had not been published when I tabled the question, so it is not unreasonable to expect it to be done now. The Minister of State is described as the Minister of State with responsibility for western development. Will he say where does the west end because the question of rural development extends even as far as the Irish Sea?
To Guadeloupe.
Presumably this report deals with the entire country rather than the part specifically within the remit of the Minister of State.
I make every effort to be helpful to the Deputy. When the Government first announced the responsibilities I was being given they clearly enunciated that the region of western development would coincide with the bishops' desire to have it extend from Donegal to Galway——
It was an afterthought.
——and I was glad I was able to persuade the Government to include County Clare——
The Minister of State was an afterthought.
——in that western development partnership area.
It is a parish, if not a diocese, the Minister of State has.
It is fairly extensive. Indeed, as Deputy Séamus Brennan has just said, yes, it is a diocese, if not an archdiocese.
On a point of order the reply the Minister of State is now giving contradicts the reply the Taoiseach gave to Question No. 1.
It could be construed as being an obstacle to a pluralist society.
He is a formidable obstacle.
(Interruptions.)
Let us proceed with the subject matter of Question No. 2.
While the Deputy might contend I am being frivolous in my replies, I should point out rural decline has continued over very many years so that the bishops took it upon themselves to initiate plans believing the politicians had let them down. In the brief I have been given I must also include rural renewal. As Deputy O'Malley will remember, post offices were closed by the previous Government. Indeed, when representations were made to the outgoing Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Cowen, he said he was unable to change the policy.I am attempting to pursue the line pursued by NESC in finding a single suitable place where all of these services can be co-ordinated, such as services provided by post offices, banks, health boards and county councils.
A one-stop shop.
(Interruptions.)
Let us hear the Minister of State.
There was a serious vein in the bishops' initiative. The Western Development Partnership Board was set up by the former Taoiseach, Deputy Albert Reynolds, whom I applaud for his work in this area, which is continuing.Indeed, the task force he established will report in September next. It is our intention to be successful in this area.
No matter how foolish I may appear, I hope the people of the west will remember the cynicism of Deputies opposite when they voted against the appointment of a Minister of State for western development, when they deplored my appointment——
The Minister of State was an afterthought.
——when, at all times, cynicism ruled on the benches opposite.
(Interruptions.)
The reality is that the Minister of State was seventeenth in line.
(Interruptions.)
May I take it from what the Minister of State has said he will keep open every shop, post office, church and pub throughout the country?If so he is truly a miracle man and should have been number one on the Taoiseach's priority list of portfolios, not seventeenth?
(Interruptions.)
Because it is such a frivolous question, the Deputy did not listen to what I said. I said it is my intention to ensure that rural renewal will begin with the provision of services that the Deputy's Government terminated in rural areas all over the west, leading to the decline of the west which has continued over many years but particularly since 1991. Indeed, Deputy Ó Cuív can tell her about the publication of censuses in his constituency outlining the number of pupils from Rosmuck and other areas who will attend schools there between now and the year 2000.
Deputies
Will the Minister of State-deal with flooding as well?
While Deputy O'Rourke is dextrous with her tongue, she was never too dextrous when it came to keeping open schools in rural areas.
A Cheann Comhairle, may I take refuge under the Progressive Democrats' Defamation Bill, 1995 from the allegation that I am dextrous with my tongue?
(Interruptions.)
May I dissuade Members of the notion that they can debate regional or western development now; it cannot be debated now.
Would the Minister of State say what the Government would have done to save the west had he become Leas-Cheann Comhairle? To which Roman Catholic bishop should I make representations to have County Limerick included in the west?
The Deputy is not sufficiently dextrous.
Will the Minister of State say who will be responsible for the implementation of the recommendations of this report outside the western areas and in view of what he said about copies of the report having been placed in the Dáil Library, will there be a copy for everybody in the audience?
As the Deputy is aware such reports are always given to Deputies. The Deputy will be getting a copy of that report. Regarding the rural renewal aspect, I will be responsible for pilot schemes initiated in that area and I hope to have Deputy Ó Cuív's assistance in setting up one or two in the western area.
Does the Minister of State intend to give Leader groups more flexibility in disbursing funds? Does he intend to allow them take equity or grant long or short term loans?
This is quite a wide extension of the question.
I do not have responsibility for the Leader programme, but if the Deputy wishes me to make representations on any subject regarding it, I am prepared to act as intermediary in dealing with Deputy Deenihan.
Did the terms of reference of the NESC report embrace the crisis facing many national schools in rural Ireland, given the information I received from the Department of Education that more than 500 teaching posts will be lost by next September and that we will have many two-teacher and one-teacher schools?
That question should be directed to another Minister.
It relates to the NESC report on rural Ireland and the impact the closure of national schools will have on rural Ireland.
The Deputy's question should be directed to the Minister for Education.
Those are real issues and I would appreciate a response from the Minister.