Jackie Healy-Rae
Question:218 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the Department which funded the rural settlement policies in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/03]
Written Answers. - Rural Resettlement.
I understand the Deputy wishes to know if any Exchequer funding was provided to the Irish planning policy panel in connection with a paper prepared by that group entitled "The New Rural-Urban Relationship, A Framework for Discussion". The panel is a regional branch of the Royal Town Planning Institute, which is a private professional group dealing with planning issues based in the United Kingdom. To the best of my knowledge, no Government Department had any role in the commissioning, financing or the publication of the above paper. Expenditure on rural affairs, which mainly relate to rural development, is funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.