Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
210. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount provided under the capital plan for the allocation to the regional development office in the western region; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18845/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021, which was published in September 2015, included a commitment to provide €1 million each year in 2016 and 2017 to establish a Strategic Regional Development Office in the western region under the Western Development Commission (WDC) for the purposes of co-ordinating the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission for Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) in the region. This office was intended to be pilot initiative which, if successful, could be replicated in other regions.
While capital funding was ring-fenced for the WDC in 2016 and 2017, the original intention that this would support the implementation of the CEDRA report has been overtaken by the assignment of responsibility for regional and rural affairs to my Department.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government launched the Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential, in January of this year. The Action Plan provides an overarching framework to support rural development in all regions. The Plan contains over 270 actions for delivery by Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies. Any outstanding CEDRA recommendations will be reviewed as part of the Action Plan, to determine how best they can be progressed.
The Action Plan is overseen by a Monitoring Committee, which I chair. The Monitoring Committee will review the progress of each of the actions in the Plan on a regular basis. The first meeting of the Monitoring Committee took place last month and Progress Reports will be published every six months, with the first report due in July.
As part of the Action Plan, my Department is also progressing the concept of developing an Atlantic Economic Corridor along the western seaboard, in collaboration with stakeholders and State agencies, including the WDC.
