Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand. I am from rural Ireland, the same as Deputy Tóibín, as are the Ministers of State, Deputies Kyne and Ring. We are committed to rural Ireland and I can assure Deputy Tóibín of that. Rural Ireland will be addressed as part of an issues and option paper, which will include a section entitled, "A place-based strategy for rural Ireland".

This comes back to the need for joined-up thinking and cross-Government co-operation on rural Ireland. In this regard, I will be bringing forward the action plan for rural development later this year. The action plan will cover the three-year period 2016 to 2019 and will be structured around the following themes: supporting sustainable communities, creating and sustaining enterprise and employment, fostering culture and creativity in rural Ireland, building on rural tourism and recreational opportunities and improving rural infrastructure and connectivity. The action plan will act as an overarching structure for the implementation of Government initiatives which have the potential to benefit rural Ireland.

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