A number of the commitments in the White Paper have already been implemented. The title of my Department is the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development with effect from 27 September last, reflecting its lead role in rural development. Arrangements for the rural proofing of policy proposals are now in place. Arrangements for the Cabinet sub-committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, and the interdepartmental policy committee on rural development have been agreed. I expect to be able to announce very shortly the establishment of the National Rural Development Forum, which will be widely representative. The rural development fund will be in place from next year to support the review and analysis of rural development policy through appropriate research.
Pilot projects on rural transport are in progress in several areas to examine their effectiveness. In addition, each county development board, from next year, will carry out an audit of local transport needs and services as a priority and will identify with the relevant partners the most appropriate co-ordination and delivery mechanism to ensure effective local transport provision in its area.
The White Paper is a general policy statement setting out principles and commitments for the future. The commitments in the White Paper will be reflected in the national development plan to be published next Monday. The review of An Action Programme for the Millennium, published last week, reaffirms the Government's commitment to rural development.