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

We launched the Government's action plan for rural development, which includes town, villages and rural areas, in Ballymahon, County Longford last Monday week. The action plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives right across Government, which will benefit rural Ireland. Supporting towns and villages is only one element of a much more comprehensive plan.

The action plan contains more than 270 actions to be delivered by a range of Departments, State agencies and other bodies across five thematic areas. The plan will support sustainable communities and enterprise and employment, maximise our rural and recreation potential, foster culture and creativity and improve rural connectivity. The actions set out in the plan will deliver benefits to all rural communities, whether they are located in a town, village, surrounding countryside or on one of our offshore islands.

A key objective of the action plan is to support the creation of employment throughout the regions to ensure people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally. The action plan also contains a series of specific measures to enhance local services, including in the areas of health care, transport and rural schools. There are also actions in the plan to strengthen safety and security for people living in rural areas, and to support and empower local communities.

The actions in the plan are only the start of an ongoing process which will be built on continuously to unlock the potential of rural Ireland and improve the lives of people who live and work in rural communities. Focusing on towns and villages is sound regional development. We need vibrant towns and villages to support the environs and some might say the hinterland. This is not just about the towns and villages, it is about parishes, communities and the whole of rural Ireland.

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