Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018
529. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the six monthly report on Realising our Rural Potential will be published in view of the fact that it was due to be published in February 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28019/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraRealising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, was launched in January 2017. The Action Plan contains 277 actions for the delivery across Government, State agencies and other bodies over the next three years to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland.
The second progress report on the Action Plan was published on 4 May 2018 and is available on my Department's website at https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/APRD-Second-Progress-Report-Final-PDF.pdf.
The report provides an update on the status of 271 Actions which were due for delivery in 2017, or which have a longer timeframe but had on-going activity taking place in 2017. The report shows that 254 of these actions were either completed on schedule or substantially advanced, representing an implementation rate of 93%.
The small number of actions which were behind schedule will continue to be monitored with a view to their completion as soon as possible.
The Government has reinforced its commitment to rural Ireland through the establishment of a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which will provide an additional €1 billion of investment in rural Ireland over the next 10 years. I will be launching the first call for proposals under the Fund shortly.
