Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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604. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the measures he intends to take upon the completion of the work of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27493/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Minister Coveney and I established the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, in September 2012 and tasked it to investigate the opportunities and challenges facing rural populations in the current economic climate. Since then the Commission has been working towards the publication of a report that will inform policies and strategies to support the economic development of rural Ireland into the future. The Commission, led by its chair, Mr. Pat Spillane, has been engaging in an extensive schedule of meetings with stakeholder groups and the public over recent months looking at the many issues that affect life in rural Ireland at present.

The Commission is also conducting a parallel research process and has invited interested parties to make submissions directly to it via its website at There is also an option to complete an online questionnaire. To date 60 questionnaires have been completed. In addition, 108 submissions have been received. In total between the consultation and research exercises 850 contributions have been received to date for consideration in the CEDRA research process. The Commission presented its preliminary findings at a conference in NUI Maynooth yesterday with the final report due in October 2013.

I believe there is clear evidence that rural communities all over Ireland have embraced the CEDRA research process. I am confident that the information that emerges from this process will provide invaluable insights into the potential for the economic development of rural areas and will assist policy making into the future. I look forward to receiving the final report, when it is complete, at which point both I and my colleagues in Government will give due consideration to its findings and make decisions regarding the appropriate actions to be taken.