Row erupts over future of department developed by Minister Ring
A POLITICAL row has blown up over the future of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
According to Minister Michael Ring, Fianna Fáil needs to immediately clarify if they intend to shut down the department.
He explained: “Micheál Martin’s party pledged today to establish a standalone Department for Higher Education, meaning a current department will have to be abolished.
“Soundings are already emanating from Fianna Fáil that the Department of Rural and Community Development will be the one to go.
“Fianna Fáil tried a little over a decade to shut down rural Ireland. Now they look set to shut down rural Ireland’s voice at the cabinet table.
“Dara Calleary must urgently clarify if Fianna Fáil will abolish a government department that is responsible for investing record amounts of investment in rural Ireland.
“We have never had more people living or working in Rural Ireland in the history of our State.
"The government department that I run is in charge of ensuring that rural Ireland is getting the funding that it needs.
"We are delivering €1 billion worth of funding through the Rural Regeneration Scheme.
"We are delivering on the National Broadband Plan. We are delivering jobs for rural Ireland. Put it simply, Fine Gael is the only party for rural Ireland.
“The creation of the Department of Rural and Community Development was one of the first acts by Leo Varadkar upon becoming Taoiseach in 2017.
“Its budget has more than doubled and the creation of the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is providing unprecedented levels of funding to rural communities.
“The Department of Rural and Community Development has been a great success and will be staying put under Fine Gael.
“Fianna Fáil’s record on Rural Ireland is one of forced emigration and the closure of services.
"Now it looks like they want to abolish the government department that is delivering for towns and villages across rural Ireland.
“It is shocking that Fianna Fáil are looking to abolish the Department of Community and Rural Development.”