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Vol. 985 Thursday, No. 4 11 July 2019 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 11/07/2019A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 446 11/07/2019A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 446 11/07/2019A00300Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 446 11/07/2019B00600Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 449 11/07/2019C00150RAPID Programme� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 451 11/07/2019C04050Climate Change Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 454 11/07/2019D00800Rural Regeneration and Development Fund � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 457 11/07/2019E00400Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 458 11/07/2019E00450CLÁR Programme � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 458 11/07/2019F00100Rural Regeneration and Development Fund � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 460 11/07/2019F01100CLÁR Programme � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 462 11/07/2019G00400Rural Development Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 464 11/07/2019H00150Community Enhancement Programme Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 466 11/07/2019K00100Brexit Contingency Action Plan: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 469 11/07/2019T00200Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 488 11/07/2019X00800Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 498 11/07/2019Z01200Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 503 11/07/2019Z01400Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed)� � � � � � � � 504 11/07/2019DD00500Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2019: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 515 11/07/2019DD01300Taisceadán (Valuable Property Register) Bill 2019: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 516 11/07/2019DD02400Twenty-fifth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 518 11/07/2019EE00050EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 518 11/07/2019KK00100 Public Service Pay Commission Report on the Permanent Defence Force: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 523 11/07/2019NN00250Teachtaireacht ón Seanad - Message from Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 530 11/07/2019NN00350Public Service Pay Commission Report on the Permanent Defence Force: Statements (Resumed) � � � � � � � � 530 11/07/2019SS03300Citizens’ Assemblies Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 540 11/07/2019VV00100Courts (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Bill 2019: From the Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 546 11/07/2019VV01600Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages 548 11/07/2019DDD02200Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 561 11/07/2019DDD02300Direct Provision System � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 561 11/07/2019EEE00400Road Projects Status � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 564 11/07/2019FFF00400Bord na Móna � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 566 11/07/2019HHH00700Message from Select Committee� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 571 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 11 Iúil 2019 Thursday, 11 July 2019 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 9 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 11/07/2019A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 11/07/2019A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 11/07/2019A00300Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation 11/07/2019A004001� Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made regarding the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter� [30891/19] 11/07/2019A00500Deputy Dara Calleary: I know I will get one version from the Minister, Deputy Ring, which will be different to the reality on the ground but perhaps we will have a discussion on the real activities in the Action Plan for Rural Development� I know the glass will be half full, as it always is with the Minister� Let us give it a go� 11/07/2019A00600Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Michael Ring): The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017 as a whole-of-Government initia- tive to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland� Progress reports on the implementation of the action plan are published twice yearly on the gov�ie website� The most recent, Fourth Progress Report, was published at the start of July� It shows that 268 of the 277 actions reported on were either completed on schedule or substan- tially advanced� The cross-departmental approach of the action plan is benefiting rural areas in many ways. For example, since 2015, there has been an increase of more than 146,000 in the number of people employed in regions outside of Dublin, surpassing the Government’s target of 135,000 446 11 July 2019 extra jobs by 2020� Last year, more than 60% of the new jobs created by Enterprise Ireland cli- ent companies were outside the Dublin region and 58% of employment in IDA client companies is now based outside of Dublin� The level of investment being made in rural Ireland is also unprecedented� Thousands of projects have been supported by my Department alone since the start of 2017, with further investment across Government also benefitting rural communities in areas such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism and transport. The progress made under the action plan has been further built on in Project Ireland 2040, in particular through the rural regeneration and development fund, which will provide €1 bil- lion in investment in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027� To date, €86 million has been allocated from the fund to 84 projects� The action plan will continue to be delivered through to the end of this year� My Department is currently working on the next phase of a rural develop- ment policy to succeed the action plan� A number of consultation workshops have taken place around the country to obtain stakeholder input to the development of this policy� I have also invited the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development to provide an input on the new policy� 11/07/2019A00700Deputy Dara Calleary: I should have organised the cheerleaders and the brass band, be- cause I knew what was coming� The reality is that 3% of the €21 million allocation for the town and village renewal scheme in 2018 has been spent, 20% of the 2017 budget remains unspent and a quarter of the CLÁR budget for 2018 remains unspent – I have not even got to 2019� We still have difficulties with the LEADER programme where 76% of the budget remains unspent. We are mid-way through 2019 in a programme that was officially due to end in 2020, albeit with extensions� There have been announcements and the Minister has outlined job creation figures but how many of the jobs are at the minimum wage? What is the spread of those jobs? “Outside Dublin” could mean Drogheda or across the M50 and in places very close to Dublin� Are the jobs spreading to the west and beyond Galway? How many IDA visits were there this year in County Mayo? There were very few compared to the rest of the country. It is great to tick boxes and lists but the reality on the ground is that many of the schemes the Minister is announcing are not being delivered. We have had the discussion about the difficulty with the delivery of schemes. What are we going to do about it, rather than continuing to talk about it? 11/07/2019A00800Deputy Michael Ring: I know the way Deputy Calleary likes to use the figures against me. I listened to him and his party say all last year that I would not spend my departmental budget� I wish to put on record today