I acknowledge the vacant to vibrant programme that the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, announced yesterday. The thought is of regenerating and revitalising the high streets of many of our rural towns nationwide and bringing businesses back into the centre of towns with supports for business planning, financial planning, mentoring and access to digital e-certificates. All of these initiatives should create more jobs in our rural communities. They are backed by continuous investment in town regeneration, which has happened over a number of years.

I welcomed the inclusion by the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, of Strokestown in Roscommon. That is a town currently undergoing town regeneration, under the town and village scheme, that is going to completely change the landscape and, I hope, increase the footfall on the street. The only way you will increase footfall is by having the businesses there to support it. It is great to see multiple Departments linking initiatives with each other and supporting those measures.

The footfall and businesses come on the back of the just transition funding that was announced yesterday. There will be an investment of over €4 million in walks and greenways in the wider Strokestown area. I highlight that initiative to show that the Government is not forgetting, and has never forgotten, rural Ireland. In the second phase of this vacant to vibrant programme, Castlerea, my own home town, is included. Money was also allocated yesterday to a river walkway for tourism and to try to open our town park for people visiting the town.

I highlight the point that the revitalisation of rural Ireland does not happen overnight. It takes multiple different actions over a number of years. I recognise the former Ministers, Michael Ring and Heather Humphreys, for their investment in rural Ireland in their roles down through the years.