Rory O'Hanlon
Ceist:2 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Taoiseach his policy in relation to the development of towns, other than county towns, in the Border area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10887/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Towns.
The National Economic and Social Council in its report, New Approaches to Rural Development, identified the importance of developing towns as growth centres and acknowledged their role in sustaining rural population. This is the case for all rural areas, including Border areas.
A range of public policies influence the location of population in rural areas, villages, towns and cities. The council was of the opinion that further research on Ireland's settlement patterns and urban system was necessary in order to explore the interdependence of urban and rural areas. There is a need for an understanding of rural growth and decline.
The Government has agreed that the research recommended by the National Economic and Social Council will make a valuable contribution to our understanding of the issues of both rural and urban development. Accordingly, in response to the action plan recently launched by the Western Development Partnership Board, the Government agreed to the undertaking by the NESC of a detailed analysis of overall settlement patterns, including the hierarchy of village, town and city settlement and clarification of policy goals concerning settlement. It is expected that the NESC study will inform future policies to be pursued to overcome problems of population imbalance in various areas throughout the country.
While these studies are being conducted the situation in rural Ireland is getting worse. Is the Minister of State aware of the concerns of people in rural areas that, while at national level there is a policy of decentralisation, at county level there is a positive policy of centralisation to services in the county town? As a result of the policies being pursued by the Government and agencies under the remit of various Departments, many towns in the Border areas in particular are suffering. I refer specifically to the decisions to relocate the ESB office from the Army barracks, Cootehill to Cavan. Is the Minister of State aware that the ESB negotiated with a certain bank rather than with An Post to collect moneys, with the result that people are now concerned that post offices are under threat?
Is the Minister of State further aware of the concerns of people in small towns about the effect of designation of specific areas in the county town? Those who refurbish their premises in smaller towns pay increased rates whereas those in designated areas in the county town get tax relief. Leaving aside the research being conducted for the different agencies, will the Minister of State do something to resolve these serious problems?
I am in sympathy with the Deputy's views about the weak infrastructure in rural towns and the continuous drag towards the centre. This pattern has emerged over many years. This is the first Government to make any effort to address the problem. As the Deputy rightly said, studies are being conducted of the various ways by which the decline in population can be arrested. Work is in train on four or five pilot projects in western locations which will be announced in coming weeks with a view to the integration of public services in rural areas. The initiative began in the west when a small group of farmers got together with the bishops and said they would take no more.
The Government of which the Deputy was a member asked the NESC to study the issue of rural development. I quoted from its report, compiled by Professor Cummins and others, in my initial reply. It is as a consequence of this report that the examination of settlement patterns will be undertaken without delay.
I am confident that a rural development policy will be devised and a framework established before the next general election. I am satisfied from the response I have received to date from rural communities that they are happy with the progress I am making. I regret to say that I have not received any requests from the Deputy's constituency, either Cavan or Monaghan, to conduct pilot studies, but I am satisfied that, when the results of the initial projects are published, the people of those areas will be anxious to have similar studies carried out.
The Minister of State said that this is the first Government to make any effort to address the problem. What did it do to prevent the ESB from closing offices in towns other than the county town?
That is a specific matter worthy of a separate question.
In an era of sophisticated telecommunications, there is no reason these offices should not be retained. What action has the Government taken to ensure smaller towns are not neglected and to prevent decay as has happened in villages during the years?
The Deputy was probably, a member of the Government which instructed the ESB and An Post to operate within commercial guidelines. There were many insensitive closures of post offices during that time.
We did not close ESB offices in small towns.
I attended many hostile meetings——
The Minister of State has not begun to do so.
——at which it was reported that the then Minister, Deputy Cowen, was handcuffed and could do nothing about this issue. Since I took office as Minister of State, there have been no insensitive closures of post offices. With regard to the ESB, I answered that question last week.
Why did the representatives of the ESB not go to An Post to collect the money?
As far as the rationalisation of the ESB is concerned, an agreement was made between the trade unions and ESB management when the company engaged in a reassessment of its position vis-à-vis preparing for competition. Part of this agreement was that the private sector would take up the sale of electrical goods in certain areas. It was also agreed that the ESB would make reasonable efforts to provide a full service, whether through post offices or banks, to the public in towns which were losing shops.
If Deputy O'Hanlon wishes to inform me of a town where a post office is being overlooked and people are being encouraged take their business to the banks, I will make representations on his behalf to the chairman of An Post, who I am sure will listen to my pleas.
I did not receive a reply to Question No. 1 in relation to infrastructure for industrial development on the Border. The Minister of State is aware that all parties have called for the spending of EU funds in this regard but there are apparently no plans to do so. A company has earmarked and put aside land near Ardee, County Louth, which is awaiting purchase by the State agencies. Unfortunately there is no money in IDA coffers to purchase that land. Funds from the Delors package could be made available to purchase the land and build advance factories in Ardee, where there is a high rate of unemployment. A similar situation obtains in Drogheda where there is no land available for the IDA to initiate industrial growth. This problem is duplicated, and is probably worse, in other Border counties.
I ask that the Minister of State and the Government use their good offices to ensure that funds from the Delors package are not consumed by other schemes, and that cognisance is taken of representations by Members of the Oireachtas who live in Border counties.
I believe that Deputy Ahern would like me to repeat my original statement.
The Minister of State did not answer my question in the first instance.
Guidelines for the disbursement of EU funds were drawn up by a previous Government and I have no responsibility for them.
That Government is long gone.
Deputy Ahern posed a number of questions and should be courteous enough to listen to the Minister of State's replies.
In order to provide assistance to the Deputy, I have promised to raise his concerns about pilot factories in Ardee and elsewhere when the mid-term review takes place. I have met with representatives of the IDA from Ardee who are of the view that there is a necessity for the developments outlined by Deputy Ahern. I am certain that, when the mid-term review takes place, funds will be invested there if the need arises.
The Minister of State could take a simple initiative on this matter. Would he consider asking his colleagues in Government to extend the benefits of the urban renewal scheme for designated areas to Border towns? This scheme was a great success when extended to traditional seaside resorts. Would the Minister of State consider using his great influence with his Government colleagues to extend the scheme to Border towns because of the difficulties they have experienced?
I sympathise with towns that are losing their infrastructure and population and I understand Deputy Nealon's suggestion about tax breaks. However, if the system to which he referred is extended, it might as well be extended to the entire country for all the benefit it will provide. I believe we should await the examination currently being undertaken by the Department of Finance on tax breaks of this nature to see whether any real system of benefit for rural and Border areas can be drawn up.
In light of the Minister of State's reply to Deputy Ahern, will the Government, during the mid-term review, request a renegotiation of the National Development Plan to take account of changing circumstances in the Border areas?
I do not know what can be done about the mid-term review. That is really a matter for negotiation. I am sure the other side will listen if reasonable proposals are put forward. The Deputy's proposal can be put to the EU which developed the plan. Deputy O'Hanlon has experience in this area and is aware that it may be very difficult to change the National Development Plan. I would not have agreed with certain elements of the plan or the way in which it was drawn up. However, I must implement the work outlined by a previous Government. When the mid-term review takes place we will seek to achieve the best deal possible for very disadvantaged areas.