Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir O'Donovan maidir le cás na n-iascairí beaga. Tá géarchéim ansin and tá géarghá leis an díospóireacht a lorg sé. I note the case of the inshore fishermen and support the call for that debate. I note further that the Minister in the North who deals with the fishing industry, Michelle O'Neill, has set up a new fishing industry task force in the North, which might be looked at as a model that could be followed.

There is an interesting report in today's edition of the Irish Examiner on the presentation given by Professor Cathal O'Donoghue of Teagasc to Galway County Council about rural towns witnessing the highest jumps in unemployment and emigration rates. He undertook a particular study that considered locations such as Gort, Carnmore, Clifden, Craughwell, Oranmore, Clarinbridge, Barna and so on in County Galway, which demonstrates statistically what Members already know, which is that rural towns are witnessing a huge increase in emigration, as well as having very high unemployment rates. However, to me it brings to mind the launch by the Government in November 2012, to great pomp and with great style, of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, which the Minister, Deputy Hogan, is leading. When I saw the aforementioned newspaper report, I decided to check to ascertain what is being done by CEDRA. I could not find much information on its website, which contained a schedule of meetings for 2013 but none for 2014. It appears as though the notes, minutes and notifications for the last meeting was for 19 November 2012. At the time, press statements indicated that the report of CEDRA was due in October 2013.

I seek information on the current status of CEDRA, which is headed up by Pat Spillane? Have they all emigrated? Are those who were updating the website now unemployed? What is the position with CEDRA, because it appears as though there is no coherent policy on rural development in the Government's plans? In fairness, there was not much of a coherent plan before that either but it is of huge importance for people living in the west and the north west to have in place a proper economic development plan for rural areas. One was told that CEDRA would go some way towards sorting this out and consequently, I seek a debate on the CEDRA initiative. What actually is happening in this regard and is it going anywhere? While I am sure it is possible that much work has been done behind the scenes, I seek a debate on its future direction, on what is the Government's plan and whether it has a strategy on rural areas, as opposed to merely having big press launches and setting up websites only for very little to happen thereafter.