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

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing an islands policy in line with the programme for Government commitment, as well as commitments made in Our Rural Future. The process of developing the policy has taken longer than I would like. However, I am determined to take the time necessary to get it right. That is no more than our island communities deserve, because it is more than 25 years since the Government last published an islands development policy. I received an initial draft of the policy before Christmas and, since then, officials from my Department have been engaging very intensively with colleagues across all Departments and agencies to tie down firm commitments and agree robust actions to be taken over the next three years.

It goes without saying that any islands policy must be developed in consultation with island communities. As the Deputy will be aware, an extensive public consultation process took place as part of the development of this policy. Since then, officials from my Department have remained in contact with the islands representative body, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann. They met with them in recent weeks to discuss the draft policy, its strategic objectives, timelines and the next steps in the process. I am pleased that the policy and accompanying action plan is nearing completion and I expect to present it to Government for approval in the coming weeks. This is an issue the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has raised with me on a number of occasions. We are very close to having it finished. Then, it will have to be translated and I will have to bring it to Government.

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