Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rural Development.

Michael Noonan

Question:

120 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action he intends to take to assist in making the operation of public utilities and private companies more viable in rural areas. [217843/03]

I am taking a number of actions both directly through programmes sponsored by my Department and indirectly through measures led by other public bodies in support of rural development, both in relation to public utilities and private companies.

My Department implements the CLÁR programme for disadvantaged rural areas. CLÁR funds, or co-funds, with other Departments, State agencies and local authorities, investment in selected priority developments. The measures introduced under the programme reflect the priorities identified by the communities in the selected areas whom I consulted at the outset. These measures support physical, community and social infrastructure across a variety of measures such as electricity conversion, roads, water and sewerage, village enhancement, health and sports projects. They are, for the most part, operated in tandem with the lead Departments or public utilities, as appropriate, thus ensuring efficiency and effectiveness as well as meeting the needs of the people in the CLÁR areas.

The Leader programmes, operated by my Department, provide approved local action groups with public funding both, EU and national, to implement multi-sectoral programmes for the development of their own localities. The bottom up philosophy of rural development requires that the local Leader group is the decision-making authority in relation to approving actions falling within its business plan. The approval of grants by groups is made within detailed operating rules drawn up by the Department and approved by the European Commission. Within these rules each group will assist a wide range of entities including private companies.

The White Paper on Rural Development is also relevant. The White Paper addresses a wide variety of issues including access to services. While primary responsibility for the operation of those services rests with the individual government departments and state agencies, my department pursues particular issues as they arise, for example, matters in relation to rural transport, rural post offices, and broadband with the departments/public utilities concerned.

Responsibility for support for companies in rural areas rests with agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, SFADCo, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and the county enterprise boards. However, in conjunction with the Tánaiste, I am advancing a review of supports for enterprise in rural areas so as to see how best these can be strengthened and enhanced.

My Department through the Gaeltacht and islands programmes assists with the provision of basic infrastructure. As well as this my Department directly subsidises ferry and air services to a number of inhabited off shore islands.

Top
Share