Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 May 2017
190. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the recommendations of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas report and the charter for rural Ireland have been reviewed, as outlined in action 86 of the Action Plan for Rural Development; when the review findings will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23388/17]
View answerThe CEDRA report was a substantial body of research work on the issues affecting rural Ireland and it helped inform the preparation of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development which I published last January. The Action Plan builds upon, and goes further than, both the CEDRA report and the Charter for Rural Ireland. While the remit of the CEDRA report was to focus on the economic development of rural areas, the Action Plan for Rural Development also addresses the social and cultural development of rural communities.
The Plan contains over 270 commitments to be delivered by a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies, and acts as an overarching structure for a coordinated whole-of-Government approach to rural development.
Action 86 of the Action Plan for Rural Development states that my Department, in conjunction with relevant partners, will "review the recommendations of the CEDRA Report and the Charter for Rural Ireland and identify how best to progress any recommendations that have not yet been implemented".
This action is due to be completed by the end of September and I can confirm that my Department has commenced work on the action with a view to its completion within the anticipated timeframe.
The outcome of the review will be published at the end of the year as part of the six-monthly Progress Report on the implementation of the Action Plan. However, I am open to considering publishing the details earlier, to avoid any undue delay.
