Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
97. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 14 November 2023, the status of the monitoring committee for the implementation of the new policy for the islands; the terms of reference of the committee; the membership of the committee; the number of meetings held to-date and the dates of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3980/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Our Living Islands - the National Island Policy 2023-2033 was launched in June of last year. Our Living Islands is a substantial document – a ten-year policy backed up by rolling three year action plans. It has time-bound commitments so that Departments and agencies across Government can be held to account.
A coordinated and cohesive approach across a range of Government Departments will be required for the implementation of the policy, which is underpinned by the principle of the full engagement by island communities in the process.
In that regard, I approved the establishment of the Monitoring Committee, chaired by my Department, to engage with key Government Departments, agencies and local authorities in relation to progress on implementation and to report to me.
The inaugural meeting of the Monitoring Committee took place on 7 December 2023, and the next meeting has been provisionally scheduled for 6 March 2024.
The terms of reference and membership of the Monitoring Committee have been published on the Our Living Islands webpage on gov.ie and reflect the Government commitment to ensuring that island communities are key participants in the process.
There are representatives of island communities on the committee from counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork, nominated by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, along with a representative of Comhar na nOileán. The committee also includes representatives of both the Rural and Community divisions of my own Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the HSE, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the City and County Managers Association on behalf of Local Authorities, all of which have key roles in the delivery of the policy and action plan.
