Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
152 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if progress has been made in implementing the findings of the two cross-Border studies commissioned three years ago on rural communities and rural development; and the impediments to progress in relation to these. [7555/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe steering committee on cross-Border rural development in support of its work commissioned two studies in 2001 in relation to co-operation between cross border rural communities and cross border education, training and research in rural development.
In relation to the co-operation study, the North/South Ministerial Council endorsed the main finding, namely that an area based approach to cross-Border rural development should be adopted. The rural initiative measure of the INTEREG 111 programme was identified as the vehicle through which this approach could be implemented. The measure was opened for application in August 2003 and closed on 31 October 2003. The total numbers of applications received was 18. These were considered by the INTERREG steering committee on 26 February 2004. Three applications have been conditionally accepted subject to economic appraisal, six deferred for further information and nine have been rejected.
The second study on cross-Border education, training and research identified the need for greater co-ordination, accessibility and practical application of information on current education, training and research provision. Its main recommendation is the setting up of a one-stop shop for collecting, holding and disseminating information on training, research and education provision in the Border region.
The steering committee agreed that the two lead Departments would write to all the universities, colleges and relevant organisations which had been included as part of the study for their views on how the main recommendation for the one-stop shop could best be implemented. A number of common suggestions for the format and functions of the one-stop-shop were identified from the comments received.
The committee is currently considering the establishment of a web based one-stop shop for factual information and are exploring with the centre for cross-Border studies the possibility of amalgamating it with the centre's proposed website, BorderIreland.info.
