Rural Ireland and turf cutting
Deputy Healy-Rae argues that Government policy is hurting rural Ireland, citing Bord na Móna, post offices and restrictions on turf cutting. The Minister rejects the claim, says policy is meant to favour the regions and notes recent investment in Kerry, while other Members interject about the local benefits.
During the tenure of the Government rural Ireland has been hurt a great deal. I refer to the Bill brought forward by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, the closure of post offices, mentioned by Deputy MacSharry, and the closing down of Bord na Móna in the heart of the country. Counties such as Kildare, Offaly, Longford and Roscommon and villages such as Bracknagh and Daingean are being seriously hurt and affected. I refer to rural areas, even the town of Edenderry.
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The Deputy is straying far from County Kerry.
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I am appealing to the Minister not to hurt people in rural areas anymore by stopping them from cutting their own turf because if he points an arrow in that direction, it will result in an almighty battle. Given the way the people in rural areas are hurting-----
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-----people as far away as County Kerry are talking about the closing down of Bord na Móna in the heart of the country-----
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-----I ask the Minister not to stop people cutting turf in County Kerry and other rural areas to provide heat in their home.
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I am not sure whether the Deputy asked a question on promised legislation or the programme for Government-----
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The Government has closed them down, whatever programme it comes under.
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-----but I do not accept his premise that rural Ireland is in some way deliberately being disadvantaged by the Department - far from it. As he is aware, the thrust of Government policy in Project Ireland 2040 and investment will be to skew investment in favour of the regions. It follows on the policy we pursued in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs which saw employment growing in all regions. The Deputy will be aware that as late as last Monday his constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, opened a new €30 million water treatment plant in the constituency.
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Is the Minister saying he had something to do with it? He did not know what it was.
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The Government has shut down rural Ireland.
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Since he was given the job there has not been one day that the Minister of State has not made a shame of it.
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If the treatment plant had not been built, the Deputy would be on his feet to demand that it be built.
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When we celebrate the fact that a Kerry Minister of State has delivered, the Deputy should have the good grace to acknowledge his contribution.