Vol. 448 No. 7
7 Mr. Andrews asked the Taoiseach if he has met with the Western Development Partnership Board since taking office; if the action plan to be prepared by the partnership board is available; if he intends to publish this report; and, if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2408/95]
I was pleased to meet the Western Development Partnership Board at their meeting of 16 January in the Foxford Woollen Mills Visitor Centre, Foxford, County Mayo. It was an opportunity for me and the partnership board members to get acquainted and to exchange views on how the board may best pursue its task.
The board was established last September with the task of producing an action plan within twelve months. That action plan is to encompass the recommendations in the report of the Government task force on "A Crusade for Survival" and have regard to the strategic plans of agencies already operating in the region. I hope to receive their plan within that timescale and to be in a position at that stage to publish the action plan.
I have been waiting a long time for this question to be reached but I am grateful for the Minister's reply. On the Minister of State's meeting in Foxford with the Western Development Partnership Board, what took place there? Did the Minister give the board members any undertakings? What was the direct result of the outcome of the discussion?
There was an almost full attendance at the meeting. Two members were not available. I made a brief statement and the members of the board gave me their views on how they might make progress towards commissioning this action plan. They also told me they had, that day, made a decision on the selection of an executive director and I am pleased to tell the House that Mr. John Higgins has been appointed to that position. He has already had major success with the integrated rural development group in Kiltimagh. Those were two positive outcomes from the meeting.
That concludes questions to the Taoiseach. We move on now to questions nominated for priority to the Minister for Justice. Question No. 8 is in the name of Deputy O'Donoghue.
