Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position with the development of a national strategy on rural development; the reason the proposed consultation forum on this issue has yet to take place; when an outcome from this process can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10770/06]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when it is expected that the joint national strategy for rural development will be formally agreed, adopted and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10806/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 110 together.

My Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food are jointly engaged in the preparation of a national strategy for rural development as required by the new European Council regulation on rural development. This task is being carried out in association with the European Commission. In October 2005, advertisements were placed in the national newspapers inviting representative organisations with an interest in rural development to indicate if they wished to be consulted on the 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 which were invited to make submissions by 27 January 2006. Some 70 submissions have been received to date and are being considered by both Departments.

The public consultation process on the national strategy culminated with a seminar, organised by the two Departments, on 14 March 2006 in Tullamore. Over 70 representative organisations participated and approximately 170 people attended the seminar. The views elicited will be considered in finalising the national strategy, which I expect to be agreed with the European Commission in the coming months. A detailed national programme/s will be prepared following completion of the national strategy. This will be submitted to the Commission with a view to its agreement by the end of 2006 to enable commencement of the new programme/s in January 2007.

Indicative funding for rural development programming was agreed at the December 2005 European Council. Its distribution between member states will be agreed at a forthcoming meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers.