Vol. 571 No. 2
324 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has taken in order that individuals and families have a real choice as to whether to stay in, or leave, rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21354/03]
325 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has introduced to ensure that there are vibrant sustainable communities with the range of age, income and occupational groups essential to adapt to on-going economic, social, cultural and environmental change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/03]
326 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has introduced to ensure that there is equity in terms of opportunity both between rural and urban communities and between communities in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21356/03]
327 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has introduced to ensure that the maximum number of rural households and family farms are retained in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21372/03]
328 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has taken to ensure that there are income and employment opportunities to allow individuals and families to live with dignity and enjoy a good standard of living in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21373/03]
329 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has introduced to ensure that rural communities enjoy access to education training and lifelong learning and to an adequate level of social, medical and other services and infrastructures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21374/03]
330 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has taken to ensure that rural communities participate effectively in the structures and decision making processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21375/03]
331 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures he has taken to ensure that the cultural identity of rural communities, in particular the language, traditions, heritage and sense of community, are valued and retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21376/03]
333 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures that he has introduced to ensure that the rural environment is respected and that development in rural areas takes place in a sustainable manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21414/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 to 331, inclusive, and Question No. 333 together.
My Department is committed to maintaining the maximum number of people in rural areas and to strengthening rural communities economically, socially and culturally. As pointed out in the national spatial strategy, in many rural areas the combination of high dependency on a changing agricultural base, a scarcity of employment opportunities and resultant out-migration has weakened demographic, economic, social and physical structures. In my statement welcoming the publication of the spatial strategy last November, I said it set down clear markers for the way ahead in rural development. The strategy addresses many of my concerns in relation to such issues as rural housing, services and cultural identity.
Government policy on rural development is set out in the White Paper published in 1999. The policy agenda is a broad one, involving the remit of many of my colleagues in Government and their related agencies. It covers such issues as agriculture, infrastructure, transport, environment, health and education and the challenge is to ensure coherence in pursuing our rural development objectives. For example, in the recent CAP reform negotiations, my colleague the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh, generally achieved Ireland's objectives. We have a balanced outcome that will reshape the Common Agricultural Policy and secure its future while making it more relevant to modern society. The reform of CAP will safeguard the rural economy and environment.
In the case of my own Department, the Leader+ programme is an EU initiative designed to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and innovative strategies in rural communities. The initiative is delivered by 22 local action groups. The allocation for Leader+ for the period 2000 to 2006 is €73.6 million and the initiative is co-funded by the EU. The national rural development programme closely complements the Leader+ initiative but focuses more on mainstream activities, primarily rural and agricultural tourism. It is operated by 13 local groups. Again, an element of innovation is required for all activities funded. The allocation for 2000 to 2006 is €75.7 million, again co-funded by the EU.
Leader groups are required to include a balanced and representative selection of partners drawn from the different socio-economic sectors in the area of operation. At decision-making level, the economic and social partners and associations must make up at least 50% of the local partnership. The board must be tri-partite in structure comprising representatives of the local community and development associations, private sector business interests and the local state agencies, including county council representatives. All community and development associations must be registered with the county development boards. The composition of local action group boards must include community and development group representation of at least 25%. I am satisfied that this provides a key opportunity for rural communities to participate effectively in decision making processes relevant to the development of their areas.
I introduced the CLÁR programme in October 2001 to address depopulation as well as the decline and lack of services in rural areas. Areas in 18 counties have been selected under this programme including areas I announced last January in honouring the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government to review the areas in light of the 2002 population census results. These areas suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 2002 with an average population loss of 50%. The exception is the Cooley Peninsula, which was included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused there by foot and mouth disease. The measures introduced under the programme reflect the priorities identified by the communities in the selected areas that I consulted at the outset. These measures support physical, community and social infrastructure through a variety of measures such as electricity conversion, roads, water and sewerage, village enhancement, health and sports projects. They are, for the most part, operated in tandem with the lead Departments or public utilities, as appropriate, thus ensuring efficiency and effectiveness as well as meeting the needs of the people in the CLÁR areas.
I am also interested in assessing the effects of placing development workers in rural communities as a method of expediting rural development and reducing poverty. For this purpose, I announced funding in May 2002 for four pilot which are aimed at testing the success of development workers in regenerating particularly disadvantaged rural areas. These projects are operating through a variety of community-based initiatives. They are intended to help reduce rural deprivation in the long-term at a low cost to the State by creating sustainable development. The initiative is being supported from the rural development fund of my Department. The purpose of the fund is to finance research, evaluation and pilot actions to provide information and advice for policy makers on important rural development issues.
Last week I announced that Fitzpatrick Associates, economic consultants, have been appointed to carry out a review of enterprise support in rural areas. This review will analyse official enterprise support, including tourism enterprise, already available in rural areas. The greater Dublin area, gateways, hubs and their areas of influence will be excluded from the analysis to ensure that the focus remains on regions which have not benefited from urban-generated economic growth. The way in which existing supports are delivered will be examined with particular regard to EU state aid law, the national spatial strategy and exchequer financial constraints. Also to be reviewed is the number and roles of agencies needed to optimise enterprise development in rural areas and yet avoid unnecessary duplication.
In addition, my Department funds the western development commission, whose functions include promoting, fostering and encouraging economic and social development in the western region and the operation of the western investment fund. Activities include policy analysis and development which feed in turn into policy development and planning in my Department. At my request, the commission is developing a strategy for towns on radial routes in its region to maximise the benefits of the national spatial strategy, major roads investment, the strategic rail review and decentralisation. My Department also supports the Gaeltacht areas through a range of measures aimed at the promotion of sustainable and culturally vibrant communities and the maintenance and strengthening of the use of the Irish language. Last year for example capital grants exceeding €16.5 million from my Department were approved for the improvement of Gaeltacht infrastructure, including roads, marine works, village renewal and various recreational facilities such as community centres, playing fields and other such amenities. A further €4.7 million was expended by my Department in 2002 under the Gaeltacht Housing Acts in order to further improve the housing stock in the Gaeltacht. My Department continues to support Gaeltacht households which provide suitable accommodation for learners of Irish who attend Irish language summer colleges. My Department also provided €1.5 million last year for various organisations working in the Gaeltacht to maintain and strengthen the Irish language and culture there.
Údaras na Gaeltachta, which, as the Deputy is aware, discharges its responsibilities through a range of socio-economic activities in the Gaeltacht, received a total of €42.9 million from my Department last year to allow it to continue with the development of the Gaeltacht economy and the preservation of the Irish language. In terms of advancing rural development generally both at EU and national level, the Deputy can be assured that my Department and I are availing of a range of opportunities through EU conferences, the rural development forum, etc., to advance the policy options necessary to meet changing rural agenda.
In summary, my Department is unstinting in seeking to advance measures to support rural development through the provision of community focused schemes which deliver tangible benefits to thousands across towns, villages and countryside, policy research and related measures and critical innovations in support of enterprise and infrastructure in rural Ireland.
