Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is new politics at its best.

A Programme for a Partnership Government identifies a range of local services which are important to the sustainability of rural areas in particular. The programme contains a series of commitments relating to the protection of these services, including the provision of next-generation broadband coverage, addressing the renewal of the post office network, supporting local jobseekers and the provision of other services in areas such as education, health and security. These services fall under the remit of a number of Departments and agencies.

From my own perspective, I am progressing the programme for Government commitment to address the renewal of the post office network. I have established a post office hub working group which is considering potential models under which the post offices could offer additional services, especially in rural areas. My officials are also examining the potential for the post offices to deliver services, such as motor tax payments and a basic payment account.

The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has established a national taskforce on mobile phone and broadband access with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, to identify practical measures which can be taken in the short term to improve broadband and mobile phone reception in rural areas. Two regional broadband action groups, involving all of the local authorities in the country, have also been established to accelerate the roll-out of the broadband network and ensure that there are no local barriers to the deployment when contracts under the national broadband plan are awarded in 2017.

My Department is currently developing an action plan for rural development which will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government which have the potential to benefit rural Ireland. The implementation of these initiatives will contribute significantly to the protection and enhancement of local services and will help generate increased economic activity in rural Ireland. The action plan will be published by the end of the year.

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