Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 September 2022
92. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the development of a rural-proofing mechanism, as outlined in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44712/22]
View answerOur Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. The policy contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability.
The policy commits to developing an effective rural proofing model within the lifetime of the policy. This will aim to ensure that all departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities and the need to better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing rural areas.
Following a competitive tender process, my Department engaged independent consultants to fully examine the issue of rural proofing in Ireland in order to provide a strong evidence basis for further action. Their work included consideration of rural proofing initiatives internationally so as to inform our approach based on the experiences of others. The consultants have provided their final report to my officials in my Department and it is now undergoing detailed consideration. I hope to receive the report shortly.
In addition, as DRCD will be hosting the 13th OECD International Rural Development Conference at the end of September, in collaboration with our OECD partners, we have designed in a session focussed on rural proofing of services such as healthcare provision in rural areas. This session will be facilitated by the OECD and the World Health Organisation, and will be held in plenary format with more than 400 people from right across the OECD area expected to attend. This presents an unparalleled opportunity to further enhance our understanding of international good practice regarding rural proofing. We will shape our planned next steps based on all of these elements.
My overarching objective is to ensure that we can deliver an effective, efficient and implementable rural proofing model that will support rural development and ensure that we maximise the opportunities for rural areas to the greatest extent possible.
