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

A dedicated co-ordination unit has been established within my Department and is currently working on finalising an action plan for rural development, which will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government and which will benefit all of rural Ireland. The implementation of these initiatives will contribute significantly to the protection and enhancement of local services and help generate increased economic activity in rural areas.

The objective of the action plan is to bring a joined-up approach to the implementation of policies that affect rural communities. We will work right across Government to ensure that the actions included in the plan improve both the social and economic fabric of rural Ireland. I will publish the action plan before the end of the year.

I have already started to put practical schemes in place to help local communities through the roll-out of a suite of initiatives, such as the town and village renewal scheme, the expansion of the REDZ initiative and the reintroduction of the CLÁR programme. My Department is also working directly on proposals for the renewal of the post office network as well as measures to facilitate the roll-out of high-speed broadband in rural areas once Government contracts are awarded next year under the national broadband plan.

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