Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 138: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the approval and implementation dates for an overarching national strategy for rural development. [4342/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 149: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if an allocation of €500 million was especially earmarked for Ireland at the December 2005 European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4442/06]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 162: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if officials from his Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food have finished preparing the national strategy for rural development; if the strategy is ready to be agreed and formally adopted; the process in regard to the development of a national programme for rural development once the strategy is adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4428/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 149 and 162 together.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs together with the Department of Agriculture and Food are preparing a joint national strategy for rural development as required by the new EU Council regulation on rural development. This task is being carried out in association with the EU Commission.

In October 2005, advertisements were placed in the national newspapers inviting representative organisations with an interest in rural development in Ireland to indicate if they wished to be consulted on preparation of the national strategy. In December 2005, a consultation document — draft — Ireland Rural Development National Strategy Plan, NSP, 2007-2013 — issued to the interested representative organisations.

Organisations were asked to make submissions by 27 January 2006. Some 70 submissions have been received to date and are being considered by both Departments. A consultation seminar is planned for early March and the representative organisations will be invited to participate. It is envisaged that the strategy will be formally agreed and adopted early in 2006.

A detailed national programme or programmes will be prepared following completion of the national strategy. This will be agreed with the EU Commission by the middle of 2006, in time to allow commencement in January 2007. An indicative amount of EU funding for rural development programming was agreed at the December 2005 European Council. These allocations will have to be formally agreed at an upcoming meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers.