Dr. Breandán Ó Caoimh:

Deputy Healy-Rae is correct again. I have done the external evaluation of Kerry Social Farming and it is commendable. That voluntary model is working. It is working in Kerry and in the IRD Duhallow area. It is very consistent with enabling people with disabilities to progress to improve their social skills and get out there. As it is also consistent with Government policy in terms of personalised plans and the empowerment of people with disabilities, there are two strands of Government policy working well together and it certainly merits further resourcing. I also concur with what Ms Earley and Mr. Kehoe said about rolling out more rural development through the local development companies. I also see scope for rolling out a collaborative approach to planning and place making through them as well.

I will recap what I said at the outset. The committee should keep the dialogue open and communications going with those of us who are involved in rural development. The committee is doing it now when it is doing a review but as the policy is being rolled out, stakeholders need to be at the table in order that we can work with the committee in enabling it to be effective and can contribute to the monitoring, enhancement, improvement and review of it all of the time so that we are really delivering the best for the people of rural Ireland.