Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021
391. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when was it announced that the Government is developing a ten-year island development plan; the progress made with the plan to date; when it is hoped to publish and implement same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35072/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2019 the Government noted the intention of the then Minister of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to establish an Interdepartmental Committee for Island Development which would develop a Cross-Government Islands Policy. The first meeting of this committee was held in September 2019 where an overall approach was agreed to develop the national policy for the islands which would be informed by consultation with all stakeholders. A discussion paper was published in December 2019 which set out the basis for the process, placing consultations with island communities as central to the development of the policy.
A series of public meetings were held in early 2020, however, as the Deputy is aware, that aspect of the process had to be temporarily suspended during 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Written submissions were welcomed from all parties throughout 2020, and a series of meetings were held in a virtual format with focus groups on a number of islands. A series of bilateral meetings with relevant Government Departments and Local Authorities with responsibilities for inhabited offshore islands are also underway, as well as meetings with other key stakeholders.
Following Government and Departmental changes in 2020, the Inter-Departmental Committee reconvened in 2021, reviewing progress to date and discussing the overall strategy for implementation of the policy. The Committee agreed that a 10 year policy would be developed, supported by 3 year action plans setting out specific commitments with timelines for their implementation and monitoring on progress. The Committee is scheduled to meet again today (30 June).
Work has begun on developing an initial draft of the Policy, although it is at a very early stage. Subject to further consultations with stakeholders, the aim is to have a finalised draft for consideration by the end of the year.
