Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
907. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the attempts made to develop a place-based approach to rural policies which would emphasise bottom up policies supported by top-down supports; and her plans to decentralise central services to a point of contact closer to the citizen. [25304/20]
View answerI recognise that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to rural development. Different rural areas have different needs and require different solutions depending on their local assets, their peripherality, and their population density.
There are already some successful initiatives which proactively respond to the localised needs of rural areas. For example, the LEADER programme is based on a local-led ‘bottom-up’ approach. The programme recognises the diversity of rural areas and the importance of tailoring projects to local needs.
My Department is currently finalising a new rural development policy for the period 2020-2025. This new policy will reflect a whole-of-Government approach to supporting the economic, social and cultural development of rural Ireland and will place an emphasis on adopting a more tailored, place-based approach to rural development.
The Government also recognises the opportunity for the increased location of public services in rural areas. The Programme for Government commits to the siting of new State agencies, Departments and enterprises in towns and cities outside Dublin. The Programme for Government also places a strong emphasis on supporting remote working, which will enable more people to pursue a career while continuing to live in rural areas.
We will continue to build on these commitments for rural Ireland, not just within my own Department, but across Government, in order to deliver resilient, sustainable and vibrant rural communities and economies which support our national development.
