Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 1

Written Answers. - Rural Development Co-Ordinators.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

245 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has satisfied himself that the proposals to find 25 rural development co-ordinators for the remainder of the country is not duplicating the work now being done by the county development teams in each county; his views on whether it would be better to establish the county committees of agriculture, which were abolished some years ago, to co-ordinate the work envisaged under new initiatives for alternative enterprises in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

On my recommendation, the Government have taken a decision as to the way in which the rural development programme is to be implemented for the future. That decision was, of course, taken in the light of the experience gained in the operation of the pilot programme under my Department and having regard to the budgetary resources available and the other rural development initiatives currently being implemented.

In effect, the Government have decided that the basic elements of the pilot programme will be retained, e.g. core groups, "bottom up" initiative, co-ordinators and shared experience. In the interests of efficiency and best use of resources, in the western areas the county development officer, whose remit will be suitably widened, will provide the new service. In reaching this decision, cognisance was taken of the operation of the county development teams on a statutory basis under the central development committee, the socio-economic conditions of the areas they serviced, the rural development nature of their functions to date and their access to the Western Development Fund in support of local projects for which financial assistance was not otherwise available.

To operate the new arrangements through the county development officers in "non-designated" areas or through the re-establishment of county committees of agriculture as suggested would remove the "bottom up" approach which is seen as the rationale for the new programme. As I have emphasised before, the new programme is a State-backed, self-help initiative. It will not operate as another development agency and will not compete with existing agencies or voluntary organisations. It will, rather, have a complementary role to existing "top down" development and act as a stimulus for local enterprise and voluntary effort.