Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, published its report in 2014. The report contained 34 recommendations focussed on supporting the medium-term economic development of rural areas in the period up to 2025. I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs in July 2014, and in line with the recommendations in the CEDRA report, I immediately established the CEDRA Interdepartmental Group, IDG.

The IDG, which is made up of representatives from all relevant Departments, is currently working in a co-ordinated way to ensure that Departments' policy development and implementation fully consider the needs of rural communities. It is about maximising the financial resources already available for rural development and ensuring that these resources are directed in a way that best supports the sustainable economic development of rural areas. That group has a work programme and actions, and those actions are time-lined for 2015.

In order to maintain strong links with those in rural Ireland who are involved in or have a strong interest in the economic development of rural areas and communities, both the Minister, Deputy Kelly and I recently established an expert advisory group to monitor progress and provide advice in respect of the implementation of the recommendations in the CEDRA report. This group will be chaired by Mr. Pat Spillane whose determination and energy was critical to the CEDRA consultation and report process in 2013 and 2014.

On the Deputy's query regarding the funds available to implement this report in 2015, the intention was not to allocate a specific budget for the purposes of implementing the recommendations of the CEDRA report rather to ensure that all relevant stakeholders maximise the potential of available funding streams to support the economic development of rural areas. There is much-----

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