Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)

I wish to raise with the Minister of State the issue of rural proofing. It is something I understand the Minister said last year would be published. The question refers to the "published guidelines" but I understand that they are not yet published and are still in draft form. I have had a read through them. We have many areas of the country where there is a decline in population and rural parishes under pressure. We need investment and to ensure that with regard to anything that is being done by the State, and any new policies that are brought in, whether it is around infrastructure, health services or whatever, that those services look to these rural areas and ensure they get the kind of investment they require to be able to develop and flourish.

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