Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has had discussions with the local authorities with a view to ensuring that the housing requirements in planning terms for the indigenous population of rural Ireland are met in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has had discussions with officials in the relevant Departments in the matter of planning and development in rural areas with particular reference to the need to meet the housing requirements of the indigenous rural population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2965/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together.

I have no statutory responsibility for rural housing. My Department liaises regularly with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and with local authorities on a range of issues of mutual interest in the context of rural development. As the Deputy will be aware, the rural settlement policy framework contained in the National Spatial Strategy, which represents overall Government policy on rural housing, aims to sustain and renew established rural communities, villages and smaller settlements.