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

I thank the Deputies for raising their concerns. Alignment with the counties benefits some islands and there is no doubt about that. I was in Árainn Mhór and the communities there benefited not only from a roads programme but also from development under rural regeneration funding that came through, and was driven by, the local authority in Donegal. There is a fabulous theatre on the shore. That would not have happened without Donegal County Council driving the project forward and making it happen. Certain stakeholders, but not all, have expressed a preference that the new LEADER programme would include a dedicated LAG for island communities. A dedicated LAG is not included in the model for the new LEADER programme. As I have said, island communities have particular needs and priorities and the LEADER programme can play a role in the context of the emerging national islands policy. The new structure we are looking at will include representatives of the island communities in the decision-making process of the LAG, which is an improvement. The LEADER strategy will include specific actions to cater for the challenges faced by island communities.

LEADER is only one part of the jigsaw. There are many other funding sources. I want to see the islands benefit from that and I am happy to work with them to ensure they get their fair share of investment from my Department.

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