Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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490. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department have identified the primary issues of concern amongst community groups in rural or urban settings whose quality of life has been diminished for one reason or another such as rural isolation and urban or rural anti-social behaviour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37734/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social isolation can be a very real problem in both urban and rural communities. That is why the Government is committed to building a strong economy and delivering a fair society so that communities can thrive throughout both urban and rural Ireland.

The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a suite of commitments for delivery across Government relating to the protection of rural communities and services in rural Ireland in particular.  The commitments include the provision and enhancement of services in areas such as education, health, rural transport, policing and community support.  These measures fall under the remit of a number of Government Departments and agencies.

My Department is currently working on the development of an Action Plan for Rural Development that will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government which will benefit rural Ireland.  The implementation of these initiatives will contribute significantly to the protection and enhancement of local services and social inclusion in rural areas.

My Department conducted an extensive consultation process around the country to seek the views of people in rural Ireland on potential measures for inclusion in the Action Plan for Rural Development. Work on the Action Plan is now being finalised and I will be publishing the Plan in the coming weeks.