Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 25 April 2023, the status of the new policy for the islands; if the policy and its accompanying action plan have been completed to-date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27786/23]
View answerI am delighted to confirm to the Deputy that that I launched Our Living Islands - an ambitious new 10-year policy an designed to support vibrant and sustainable island communities - on Árainn Mhór island off the cost of Donegal last Wednesday 7 June.
Key to the development of the policy and action plan was the extensive public consultation phase which enabled island communities and other stakeholders to express their views as to the challenges and opportunities associated with living on an island. The outcomes of delivering this policy will see:
• More people living on the islands;
• More people working on our islands, with good career prospects, regardless of where their employer is headquartered;
• Islands contributing to, and benefiting from, the transition to a low-carbon economy and a climate-neutral society and
• Island communities, and especially young people, having an active role in shaping the future for Ireland’s islands
Our Living Islands is the first whole-of-Government Policy for the islands to be published in 27 years.
This new policy will be backed up by rolling three-year Action Plans.
I also published the first of these Action Plans last week, which contains 80 commitments for the period 2023 to 2026 with a real focus on improving housing and water infrastructure, better access to essential services in health and education, delivering high speed broadband, supporting remote working and further developing outdoor amenities and sustainable tourism.
These time-bound actions will be implemented by various stakeholders, led by a nominated Government Department or State Agency. I will also be appointing representatives from the islands to an monitoring committee, which will be chaired by my Department, to ensure that the implementation of the policy is being progressed.
The implementation of the measures set out in ‘Our Living Islands’ will have a real and transformative effect on our islands and improve the lives of the people and families living there.
