Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
33. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands her plans to progress the national policy for the islands; the status of the islands policy; the findings of the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24395/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to develop a new Policy for Island Development which will identify and address the main challenges and opportunities for our island communities to support their social, economic and cultural development.
There has already been a large amount of consultation with island communities in relation to the development of this policy under Minister Catherine Martin’s Department, and this consultation will continue as the islands function transfers to the Department of Rural and Community Development.
As the Deputy will be aware, prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials were engaged in a process of consultation with island communities through public meetings on the islands to facilitate community input to the policy development process.
This process was temporarily suspended due to travel restrictions arising from COVID-19. However, the consultation process has remained open, and submissions from individuals and groups are still welcome via email.
In the interim, officials have been examining alternative options to enable the island consultation stage of the policy development process to recommence and to engage with those island communities that have not yet contributed to the consultation process.
Where public meetings have not yet been held, officials are working with island representatives to obtain their input, and to establish focus groups. It is proposed that online meetings will be held in the coming weeks to allow these groups to present their views.
On completion of the consultation process with the island communities, officials will consult with other stakeholders, and with the Inter-Departmental Committee which oversees the process, with a view to developing a draft policy paper.
