Vol. 569 No. 4
143 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he expects to publish the promised statement of strategy 2003-2005 for his Department which he indicated would be published early in 2003 and which he told Dáil Éireann on 27 May 2003 would be laid before the House on the week commencing 16 June 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17741/03]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first strategy statement of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, covering the years 2003-2005, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on Thursday 19 June. Copies have also been forwarded to opposition leaders and spokespersons on community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, including the Deputy. The strategy statement, which is entitled Many Communities – A Common Focus, will be available later this week on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie and on request from my Department.
This document sets out my Department's policy objectives for the period to the end of 2005 across its range of responsibilities. The strategy statement highlights our focus on leveraging community capability to enhance cohesion, local services and quality of life; promoting and supporting regional development, including Gaeltacht and island development; supporting community-based solutions to problems associated with urban living and unbalanced urban growth; and supporting the use of Irish as a living community language.
I look forward to working together, in co-operation with relevant Government colleagues, Departments and agencies, to help bring about real improvements in the ways that we support communities and assist them in meeting the challenges ahead.
