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

I thank Senators for their contributions they. I very much welcome their input. This is the first ever cross-Government approach to rural Ireland. The Action Plan for Rural Development is a living document with the capacity to add further actions over its lifetime. I am happy to hear further suggestions from Senators on how we can target other areas as well.

Senator O'Mahony is correct in saying that many of the commitments in the action plan involve new policy initiatives and will not necessarily require additional funding to have a positive impact. Through the Action Plan for Rural Development, the Government wants to empower rural communities to maximise their strengths. I do not have all the solutions but through a concerted joined-up approach, one which is based on community-led development, I am of the view that we can make a real difference to rural communities.

I can assure Senator McFadden that we had a wonderful day in Ballymahon. It is my intention, and that of the Government, to make this plan work. Senators Byrne and O'Reilly referred to the monitoring committee. I will convene a meeting of the new monitoring committee for the action plan in the coming weeks. That will provide an opportunity to identify and agree further actions and to facilitate ongoing discussion with the stakeholders in terms of the implementation of the current actions. To be clear, I will exert pressure on my fellow Ministers and their Departments to carry out their actions. In that way they can leverage more money into rural areas. I did it for the 2016 commemorations, although not on my own, and it was done by mobilising support and working with local authorities and local communities. It was a bottom-up approach. Many people said that would not happen but it did. It was a very successful collaborative way of working in partnership with the various stakeholders and especially with local authorities who were wonderful in terms of that initiative. This is a new but similar type of challenge and I am confident that if we work together and ensure it is done properly and effectively it can make a real difference with the seed capital of €60 million from the Department.

I wish to correct the record in terms of what has been said on broadband. As the debate progressed, more years were added in respect of the broadband plan. It is incorrect to say that broadband plan will not be implemented until 2022. The plan is being implemented and, to date, 1.4 million premises have access to broadband because of Government policy. Towns all over Ireland now have access to high-speed broadband and the telecoms sector is continuing to invest with more services to be rolled out. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, is managing a major procurement process to deliver broadband to premises that will not be covered by the commercial sector. He is from a rural constituency and it is a priority for him and for this Government to ensure that every home will have high speed broadband. I wish to be very clear in that regard. Senator Conway-Walsh mentioned services in Mayo. High speed broadband services are being made available in Belmullet from March. Approximately 420 premises will have access to high speed broadband from next month.