Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide an update on the preparation of a new national rural development plan; the elements which will be contained in this plan; if he is undertaking consultations with relevant stakeholders; when the plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30687/05]

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recent deal that will see a continuation of payments from the EU for rural development programmes from 2007; the way in which funding will be used to promote rural development and protect culture and services in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30707/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 116 together.

Throughout the EU, it has been recognised for some time that agriculture alone cannot provide a sufficient income to support the majority of farm families, or indeed, provide the impetus to sustain the economic and social fabric of rural communities. The successful conclusion of the recent European negotiations on a new rural development regulation represented a clear political response to this reality. European rural policy now embodies a renewed focus on an integrated rural development approach with special emphasis on the rural environment and rural economic development outside the farm gate.

Farming will continue to play an important role in the rural economy, particularly as an integral part of a multi-functional agriculture providing not just food security but also as a key provider of public good. However, in the words of the Agri-Vision report "agriculture will no longer be the primary driver of rural development in Ireland." Clearly, there is a need to provide suitable local employment opportunities capable of sustaining a viable rural population. A dynamic rural Ireland needs to be created in the context of our overall strategy for economic and spatial development and not just within the confines of agricultural policy.

The EU Community strategic guidelines for rural development 2007-2013 set out priority areas for action under the Council regulation on support for rural development by the European agricultural fund for rural development, EAFRD. These guidelines clearly call for priority to be given to the development of the economic potential of rural areas.

The recently adopted EU Council regulation on rural development programmes which refers to the proposed EU strategic guidelines, contains a number of detailed measures addressing a wide range of priority areas. The format allows flexibility for the continuation of current successful rural development measures as well as the formulation of new ones, by grouping actions under the three main objectives of competitiveness, the environment and the wider rural economy.

In the case of axis three, the wider rural economy, the overarching objective is one of creating employment opportunities. The range of measures available under this axis should be used to promote the development of rural communities and also to ensure that rural areas remain attractive for future generations. To meet these priorities, the EU strategic guidelines and Council regulation identify key actions such as raising economic activity and employment rates in the wider rural economy, tourism, micro-business and crafts, ICT, child care, training young people in traditional rural skills, developing the use of renewable energy resources, upgrading of local infrastructure. The general provision for basic services for the rural economy and rural population are outlined.

Discussions are currently under way between officials from my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food regarding the preparation of a joint national rural development strategy. The national strategy will form the basis for a new national rural development programme and will focus on the priorities outlined in the EU guidelines. The new programme will contain detailed measures in these key areas. Work on the national rural development programme will begin when the national strategy has been formally adopted, most likely within the next few months, with a view towards completion and approval by the EU Commission by mid-2006.

A stakeholder consultation on the national strategy and subsequent programme will commence shortly. All bodies represented on the CAP rural development and Leader monitoring committees will be formally notified of this process and fully consulted at all stages of preparation. An advertisement appeared in the newspapers on Monday last — 24 October — inviting these, and indeed any other representative organisations wishing to contribute to the consultation process, to contact the two Departments.

Overall, this new approach to rural development and the added emphasis on the wider rural community will enable development of a fuller range of programmes and projects to be supported. This, in turn, should lead to the creation of new enterprises and employment opportunities and help to achieve the Government's objective of balanced regional development and sustainable and vibrant rural communities.