The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas or CEDRA published its report in 2014. The Report contained 34 recommendations focussed on supporting the medium term economic development of rural areas in the period to 2025. On my appointment as Minister for Rural Affairs in July 2014, and in line with the recommendations in the CEDRA report, I immediately established the CEDRA Interdepartmental Group (IDG). The IDG, which is made up of representatives from all relevant Government Departments, is currently working in a coordinated way to ensure that each Department’s policy development and implementation fully consider the needs of rural communities. In this context, it is about maximising the financial resources already available for rural development and ensuring that these resources are directed in a way that best supports the sustainable economic development of rural areas.
The CEDRA IDG has met four times to date and a further meeting of the group is planned for July 2015. In between these meetings officials who sit on the group continue to work to examine ways in which their respective areas can improve consideration for rural development in their policy design and implementation processes. Significant progress has already been made in terms of implementing the recommendations of the CEDRA Report and this will continue through the work of the IDG over the coming period.
Funding of €1 million has been provided in the 2015 Vote of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for pilot innovative projects which progress the CEDRA remit. A strong framework work programme for this fund has been developed and will be progressed for the remainder of this year. It is envisaged that the proposed work programme will include pilot schemes on female entrepreneurs, social farming, village regeneration based on food markets and agri-tourism.
Specifically a tender issued last week for the development and implementation of a pilot programme to develop the entrepreneurial skills of nascent female entrepreneurs living in rural areas. Further proposals are being developed, which will enhance existing social farming operations and small towns-villages regeneration. In addition, plans are being formulated for a further pilot competitive call around agri-tourism projects with a particular emphasis on food and beverages, which could be partially funded from this CEDRA allocation. Details on the latter proposal will be finalised shortly.
In order to maintain strong links with people in rural Ireland who are involved in or have a strong interest in the economic development of rural areas and communities, both Minister Kelly and I have also established an Expert Advisory Group to monitor progress and provide advice in respect of the implementation of the recommendations in the CEDRA report. This group is chaired by Mr. Pat Spillane. The group has met twice so far and another meeting is scheduled for 30 June.
