Professor Cathal O'Donoghue:

In terms of the CEDRA recommendation, the fundamental objective across sectors is to have improved co-ordination of the instruments of the State to better generate rural economic development. Very often that is a cross-cutting challenge. We organise ourselves within the State in terms of sectors, industries or pillars and whether it be creative industries or rural economic development in general, it is a cross-cutting goal. That is very hard. An outcome of the report was the appointment of the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, as the Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs. That is a start in terms of co-ordination. She has established an interdepartmental group where members of a variety of different agencies meet regularly and are preparing an implementation committee. Fundamentally, that is hard. A challenge to the group is the availability of human resources. Perhaps more staff time could be made available to facilitate co-ordination. Many of those involved in the co-ordination of the CEDRA measures have busy jobs and other things to do. It is a challenge to deliver. It is going in the right direction in terms of the structures that are being set up but perhaps more could be done.