Rural Ireland is benefiting from the fact that Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív TD has been given his own budget, according to the Fine Gael whip on Mayo County Council.
And Councillor Paddy McGuinness said it was no accident that Minister Ó Cuív had taken personal interest in the controversy surrounding the Mayo County Development Plan.
Cllr McGuinness was welcoming the fact that €100,000 in Clár top-up funding had been allocated for roadworks in the Castlebar area. €24,900 is to go towards tourism and forestry access works at Sheeans, Pontoon; €18,350 for access to housing and land at Cloonsunna, Cloonkeen; €28,750 goes towards access to housing and land at Toormore, Bellavary and €28,808 for access to housing, land and bogs at Rush Hill, Balla.
Cllr McGuinness said it was unusual that a Government minister gets so much cross-party support but Minister Ó Cuív does because of his commitment to rural Ireland.
He added that it would be desirable to have pedestrian access developed between the two hotels in Pontoon given the natural scenic beauty of the area.
