Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 December 2016
316. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the commitment that a national rural development forum will be held in early 2016 following the publication of the rural charter in January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40822/16]
View answerThe Charter for Rural Ireland was published in January 2016 and contained a number of commitments to support the economic, social and cultural development of rural areas. The aim of the National Rural Development Forum which is referenced in the Charter was to ensure that rural stakeholders could contribute to the development of rural development policies and to highlight key issues that needed to be addressed.
The Action Plan for Rural Development which my Department is currently finalising builds on the commitment in the Charter for Rural Ireland. The Action Plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government which will benefit rural Ireland.
As part of the process of developing the Action Plan, my Department held a series of structured workshops across the country, seeking inputs to the Plan. The workshops included representatives from LEADER Groups, community organisations, the farming community, Local Authorities, Local Employment Offices, and the Public Participation Network. I, and my officials, have also met a number of key rural stakeholder groups and invited submissions from them. I also provided a briefing on the Action Plan to members of the Oireachtas and invited them to input to the process. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was also invited to make a submission.
The level of consultation which has been undertaken on the Action Plan exceeds the single Forum event envisaged under the Charter for Rural Ireland. I will be publishing the Action Plan for Rural Development shortly and it is my intention that it will be a living document which will allow additional actions to be added on a regular basis and with continuing engagement with key rural stakeholders.
