Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Departmental Policies

9:10 pm

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the development of a rural-proofing mechanism, as outlined in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, considering she previously advised that consultants would provide their recommendations by the end of March 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17896/22]

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I raise the rural-proofing mechanism or model that was committed to in Our Rural Future, which is a very important and practical tool that is needed to ensure our rural communities are considered when it comes to policies across government. Can the Minister give us an update on that?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this matter. Our Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. The policy contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective of maximising opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas. It recognises that rural areas play an integral role in the economic, social and cultural recovery and well-being of the country.

The policy commits to developing an effective rural-proofing model. This will aim to ensure all Departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities and the need to better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing rural areas. Following a competitive tender process, my Department has engaged independent consultants to fully examine the issue of rural-proofing in Ireland in order to provide a strong evidence base for further action. Their work includes consideration of rural-proofing initiatives internationally, so as to inform our approach based on the experiences of others. Following the recent receipt of an initial draft of the report, the consultants are expected to provide their final report imminently. This will present a series of recommendations on approaches to rural-proofing to my Department. Once received, the report will be given full consideration to determine the next steps.

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for that update. Did she receive an initial draft of that report? If so, has she gone through it? She said the final draft that will follow is imminent. What does she expect the next steps will be? This will be an important piece of Our Rural Future and an important mechanism going forward when it comes to policies right across government as, before they are introduced, they will be looked at through that rural lens. It will also be important in order to avoid any unintended consequences or any possible negative impacts of policies that may impact on rural communities. If that report is imminent, what are the next steps? The Minister will be aware that there is a rural-proofing mechanism in place in the North of Ireland. That may well have been looked at in the work that has been done. I ask for a timeline with regard to what will happen next after this report is finalised. Has the Minister looked at the draft that was issued to her?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As I said, the development of rural-proofing is a key commitment in Our Rural Future. We expect the consultants' report in the coming weeks. I have not seen the draft but when I get the final report I will consider it carefully. I want to make sure we put an effective model in place. We do not want it to be a box-ticking exercise. We have looked at the practice in other jurisdictions and I am aware that there is legislation in Northern Ireland in this regard. It is about how we collect the metrics and how we can make sure they have a real impact on the ground. I want to make sure what we are doing is the right thing. I want Departments to engage seriously with this so we have to do it in the right way. On receipt of this report, I will fully consider the options presented in consultation with my officials and I will weigh up the merits and challenges of each option. My objective is to ensure an effective rural-proofing model that will support rural policy development and will consider and capitalise on the opportunities for rural areas where possible.

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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It is welcome that things are moving with the rural-proofing model. It will be important moving forward as many people are now moving back to rural communities. In my area, there is an increase in the population that I have not seen in my lifetime. We need to make sure everything that can be done is done in order that people moving back to rural areas, or moving into rural communities, are supported. We must back up that increase in population with the services and supports that are needed.

Key to that will be that rural-proofing mechanism. That will be considered for all policies across Government and it will be particularly important for the climate measures. That will be of concern to rural communities and we need to bring them with us. That is an important mechanism and I thank the Minister for that update.

9:20 pm

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. When I was appointed Minister in this Government I made the decision that the Department of Rural and Community Development would be kept as a stand-alone Department. That is a strong signal of this Government's commitment to rural development. It is a great Department and I am proud to be part of it. On rural-proofing, we need to find the formula that works for rural Ireland. There are many schemes that support rural Ireland that do not provide the same benefit in urban areas. There are a number of different ways of looking at this. Some other countries put it on an advisory footing, some put it on a legislative footing, like in Northern Ireland, and some have it on a parliamentary scrutiny footing. There are a number of different approaches and I want to try to find the one that is most impactful. I will get the draft report when it is finalised and then we will be publish it and we will see what metrics are the best ones to use.

Question No. 69 replied to with Written Answers.