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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rural Depopulation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

94 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has taken initiatives to address the issue of depopulation in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17807/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

285 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to address the issue of rural depopulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18104/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

286 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which his Department has examined the causes of rural depopulation; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18105/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 285 and 286 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I am concerned with the problem of rural depopulation. As pointed out in the national spatial strategy, in many rural areas, the combination of a high dependency on a changing agricultural base, a scarcity of employment opportunities and resultant out-migration, has weakened their demographic, economic, social and physical structure.

My Department is committed to maintaining the maximum number of people in rural areas and to strengthening rural communities economically, socially and culturally. To this end my Department is involved in wide range of investment programmes, both EU and national, to promote this objective. The Leader+ programme is an EU initiative designed to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and innovative strategies in rural communities. The initiative is delivered by 22 local action groups. The allocation for Leader+ for the period 2000-06 is €73.6 million and the initiative is co-funded by the EAGGF.

The national rural development programme is a sub-measure named the area-based rural development Initiative within the agriculture and rural development priority of the Border, midlands and western and southern and eastern operational programmes. The programme closely complements the Leader+ initiative but focuses more on mainstream activities, primarily rural-agri-tourism. Again an element of innovation is required for all activities funded. The allocation for 2000-06 is €75.7 million and the programme is co-funded by the EAGGF.

In addition to the EU programmes and the national development plan investments, I also introduced the CLÁR programme in October 2001 to address depopulation as well as the decline and lack of services in rural areas. Areas in 18 counties have been selected under this programme, including those I announced last January in honouring the Government commitment in the agreed programme for Government to review the areas in light of the 2002 population census results. These areas suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 2002 with an average population loss of 50%. The exception is the Cooley Peninsula, which was included based on the serious difficulties caused there by foot and mouth disease.
The measures I have introduced under the programme reflect the priorities identified by the communities in the selected areas whom I consulted at the outset. CLÁR funds, or co-funds with Departments, State agencies and local authorities investment in selected priority developments and supports physical, community and social infrastructure. The island and Gaeltacht programmes of my Department are also largely focused on areas of population decline. Finally, my Department funds the Western Development Commission, whose functions include promoting, fostering and encouraging economic and social development in the western region. Activities include policy analysis and development which feed in turn into policy development and planning in my Department in this important area.
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