Written answers

Tuesday, 5 October 2004

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Rural Development

9:00 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his priorities in the area of rural development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22764/04]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The rural development goal of my Department is to promote and maintain living and working populations in rural areas by helping to foster sustainable and culturally vibrant communities there.

Within this framework, my Department's rural development priorities, which have been achieved this year include: the introduction of the rural social scheme; the implementation of the CLÁR and Leader programmes; the organisation of the EU Presidency Conferences on Rural Development and Territorial Cohesion; and the setting up of Comhairle na Tuaithe to address the walkways issue.

Other priorities in relation to rural development for this year include:

Influencing, with the Department of Agriculture and Food, the negotiations on the adoption of the draft EU regulation on rural development; the completion of, and action on, the review of rural enterprise supports; a review of the rural development fund; securing optimal outputs from the meeting of the National Rural Development Forum in Athlone on 1 November next; the continuation of cross-Border co-operation in rural development including the continued implementation of the rural development aspects of the INTERREG and PEACE programmes; supporting the Western Development Commission in the discharge of its functions; leading the Rural Development Co-ordinating Committee under the NDP; participation, as appropriate, in interdepartmental committees and Cabinet sub-committees on issues appropriate to rural development such as the national spatial strategy, infrastructure etc; and work on co-ordination in resolving difficulties and exploiting opportunities encountered by small food producers.

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