Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004
207 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the work his Department is involved in to advance the implementation of the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22721/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national spatial strategy, NSS, sets down clear markets for the way ahead in rural development and addresses many of my concerns in relation to such issues as rural housing, services and cultural identity.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department is represented on the interdepartmental committee, led by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, supporting the implementation of the national spatial strategy. In common with other Departments, my Department submitted an issues paper to the interdepartmental committee identifying the activities to which implementation of the national spatial strategy is linked, the degree to which those activities currently support the implementation of the strategy and the potential for better alignment between these and implementation of the strategy. This is an ongoing process. Issues of particular relevance to the NSS include the following.
My Department's CLÁR programme, targeted at particularly disadvantaged rural areas, supports the objectives of the national spatial strategy. The Western Development Commission has developed a strategy for towns on radial routes in the West, to maximise the benefit to the west of the national spatial strategy. A review of support for enterprise, including tourism, in rural areas has been commissioned and is nearing completion.
Two major conferences were held during Ireland's EU Presidency on living conditions and quality of life in rural Europe and on islands, mountains and sparsely populated areas. The operation of LEADER+ and the national rural development programme is continuing and, like the CLÁR programme, support the objectives of the NSS.
