Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2019
47. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the interdepartmental committee on offshore island development; and if she has reconsidered that island communities should be directly represented. [43819/19]
View answerThe first meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee for Island Development took place on Tuesday 24 September 2019. Twelve Government Departments were represented at the meeting.
My Department is currently drafting, in conjunction with other relevant Departments, a consultation document that will form the basis for a comprehensive public consultation process among island communities and wider stakeholders.
In practical terms this will involve senior officials from my Department visiting the islands to meet directly with stakeholders to obtain island input into the deliberations of the committee. It is envisaged that these consultations will cover all relevant aspects of island life and that the end result will be a comprehensive cross-Government policy document which will inform the delivery of public services to island communities over the coming years.
I can, therefore, assure the Deputy that the island communities will have a central voice throughout this entire process.
