65. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is aware of recent media reports from GAA clubs about their concern regarding the decline in population in rural Ireland; the impacts this has on the clubs; if he plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26571/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I listened very carefully to a recent report on the "This Week" programme from reporter Peter O'Connell. He referenced rural decline and depopulation and linked it specifically to a number of GAA clubs in the west of Ireland. One was St. Senan's in Kilkee. I note the chairperson, Diarmuid Keane, referenced that rural towns need significant Government aid if they are to continue to be viable. I want to hear the plans of the Minister in that regard.

Sentiment score: 0.11

It is the job of the Minister to treat us to the greatest hits of his Government and all of the rest, but in truth the statistics and facts speak for themselves. The situation was laid out very clearly for us in the RTÉ report. St. Senan's in Kilkee last reached a county final in 2009, when it had 52 adult players on its senior and junior teams. In 2025, the club now has access to at most 23 adult players for the junior team, while at underage level it has been amalgamated with two clubs immediately to the west of it, O'Curry's and Naomh Eoin, but it is still struggling. When an organisation like the GAA is coming together to highlight an issue like this, I am glad the Minister is listening, but we want action and not just listening. The GAA has highlighted issues like access to remote working. We could be here all day. From his previous brief the Minister will know a complete bags was made out of the right to remote working. The legislation has left people without that right. Access to remote working is one way to address this issue. An increase in funding for the LEADER programme and a reversal of the cuts imposed during austerity are required because funding has not caught up. There is work to be done in the here and now, but the Minister also needs to examine the historical damage done and rectify it in order that rural communities will be in a position to survive.

Sentiment score: 0.09

I am sure they will because this is an issue about which they have become incredibly exercised, and for good reason. I am using St. Senan's as an example because it was the club that was highlighted in the RTÉ report, but in the immediate surrounding areas 66% of the houses are holiday homes. When a house comes onto the market, young people who might want to stay in the area and are interested in playing GAA or providing a few players for a team in the future are being outbid by people who are coming into the area. I know that in the Minister's county, an innovative suggestion was made regarding holiday homes. I would be interested in knowing what he might have to say about that. It seems like rural communities are up against it all the time. As I said, they are still trying to make up the deficit because they were creased during the austerity years and that funding has not been made up. As well as increasing funding to the LEADER programme, there needs to be a real and sustained focus on social and affordable homes for working people to rent and buy. At the moment, it feels like the market is very cruel and very much against young people who might want to buy a home and establish themselves in a rural community.

Sentiment score: 0.31