Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach’s decision to establish the Department of Rural and Community Development in July 2017 was an important one for communities throughout the country. It underlines the Government’s commitment to ensuring the economic recovery can be felt by every community and that we will build greater resilience for the future. My Department has an important role to play in enabling economic development through the creation of jobs and the infrastructure required to support them and supporting communities to become sustainable and desirable places in which to live, work and raise families. To help bring this about, the Department is working with our colleagues across government to create the conditions to support increased economic opportunities and local employment in all areas of the country; to deliver schemes and programmes that support the revitalisation of towns and villages; to improve access to services and social networks that ensure a high quality of life; to enable communities disadvantaged by location or social issues to reach their full potential now and in the future; and to support all communities to be able to have a voice in shaping their own futures and addressing their common goals. The Department is doing this through the delivery of a variety of programmes, including flagship programmes such as the Leader and the social inclusion and community activation, SICAP, programmes, the revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme, the town and village renewal scheme, the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, the CLÁR programme, the local improvement scheme, LIS, the Dormant Account Fund, the seniors alert scheme and the communities facilities scheme.

My Department is also playing its part in the roll-out of the national broadband plan which aims to provide high speed broadband access to all areas of the country.

With regard to the addition of further functions to my Department, it is vital that any Department representing rural Ireland and communities across the country have the mandate to make a difference for these communities. I am satisfied that my Department has a very strong mandate in that regard. To that end, we have seen the transfer of responsibility for the community services programme from the Department for Employment Affairs and Social Protection from the start of 2018. While there are other schemes within the remit of other Departments that could, in time, also be considered for transfer to my Department, my immediate focus is on delivering the significant programme of work ongoing in the Department. In budget 2018 my Department secured in excess of €220 million to fund the schemes I have outlined. The creation of the rural regeneration and development fund and its allocation of €1 billion as part of Project Ireland 2040 presents a huge opportunity for my Department to create further opportunities for growth and development in rural Ireland.

I look forward to working with my Cabinet colleagues and other stakeholders in making a difference to the rural economy and communities throughout the country.

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