Martin Ferris
Ceist:446 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the National Rural Development Forum has issued reports on progress made on the implementation of the White Paper on Rural Development. [21424/02]
Written Answers. - Rural Development.
The White Paper on rural development, published in 1999, sets out a vision and a framework for the development of rural communities and marks a new approach and commitment by Government to rural development.
The overall strategy decided by Government provides for: balanced regional development to ensure that the benefits of economic progress are distributed throughout rural areas; investment in services and infrastructure; sustainable economic development; human resources development; and a determined focus on poverty and social exclusion.
It is not practical here to outline progress on every topic covered in the White Paper. However, I am sending separately to the Deputy the detailed progress report presented at the last meeting of the forum in November 2001. This report is being updated for the forthcoming meeting of the National Rural Development Forum, and I will forward a copy to the Deputy in due course.