Vol. 507 No. 4
4 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when final agreement will be reached with Departments on the White Paper on rural development; the date for the publication of the paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16982/99]
Final consultations for the preparation of the White Paper are currently under way with the other Departments. My Department intends to complete these consultations as quickly as possible. As indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 126 on 22 June 1999, I will be submitting proposals on the White Paper for approval by Government shortly with a view to publication this month.
They say in the midlands that long churning makes bad butter. This is the longest churning of which I have been aware in any area. Paradoxically, the greatest challenge facing the Oireachtas in the midst of economic success is the preservation of rural Ireland. This process is under the Minister of State's chairmanship and he received 170 submissions. It is two years since publication of the report of the Rural Development Policy Group, which was the first stage of the consultation process. What is wrong? Six months ago the Minister of State promised that the White Paper was just around the corner. Is there some impediment to its publication? Has the Department of Finance a submission to make on rural development policy?
There have been some delays by other Departments in responding to it. The Deputy will be well aware that there are some territorial claims which are difficult in these areas. There are other Departments, not necessarily the Department of Finance, involved. It is a broad multi-functional process. One must go along with what one gets at the time and keep pressuring. At present, there is only one Department which has not given a final submission.
Will the Minister of State pursue that matter at Government level through the Taoiseach to ensure that the Department concerned responds to the desires and wishes of the Oireachtas? Will the development needs of the most threatened rural areas be accommodated? Will the Minister of State try to accommodate the terms of the pilot rural renewal scheme which has recently received clearance from the EU Commission? Does he see that as a fairly important ingredient of the White Paper? Should that be included, particularly since it is being sought by other areas? Is the Minister committed to regional economic development to ensure that the lopsided development, which sees increased growth, congestion and gridlock in some parts, will not be at the expense of continued depopulation and decline in other areas? The Minister of States knows well to what I refer. Will the desired policy of the White Paper be to address rural development in a broad multi-functional capacity? Will it cover all aspects of rural development, that is, the social, economic, cultural, infrastructural and environmental aspects? Is that what the Minister wants to see from the White Paper?
The Deputy nearly laid out the White Paper in his contribution. That is the purpose of it. We want it to be that broad. The reason for any other delays was to make sure about the outcome of Agenda 2000. There were problems in that area which we had to consider. The Deputy will already be aware of the commitment of the Government to decentralise industry because we see the need for that.
I am glad to hear that.
Recently Mullingar received rewards from that, where it was announced that an industry will be set up there. There is provision for new housing in Mullingar, which the Deputy will appreciate also.
The Minister of State can send the Department to Mullingar.
Enough of it has been sent to Wexford. Many Departments have put a great deal of work into the White Paper. They have taken every facet of life into account. It will involve a commitment by Government to the rural areas and rural proofing in every sense.
