Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his priorities for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14457/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My priority over the coming period will be to progress the actions and commitments reflected in the Programme for Government and the Revised Programme for Government that relate to my functions and areas of responsibility in the restructured Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. In this regard, work will commence shortly on the preparation of a new Statement of Strategy for my Department. In developing this new Statement of Strategy, my Department will take stock of the progress made to date on meeting Government Programme commitments and decide how best to focus its efforts over the coming period so as to achieve real results on the ground and deliver on our mandate.

Over its lifetime, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs made significant progress in enhancing the cohesiveness and efficiency of delivery of various programmes that were transferred to it from other Departments. A similar challenge will face the new Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, but I am confident that the experience garnered in that context over recent years will prove invaluable in further enhancing the delivery of the Department's new social development and social inclusion programmes to the benefit of all our customers and stakeholders.