Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

47. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department is the lead Department responsible for rural development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28052/13]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

58. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when it is intended that CEDRA will report to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28060/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 58 together.

Responsibility for various aspects of rural development rests with a number of Departments. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) primarily deals with rural development issues 'inside the farm gate', whereas my Department deals with rural development issues 'outside the farm gate'. DAFM also has overall responsibility for Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, which is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer, and forms a key part of Rural Development Policy.

My Department also has responsibility for the implementation of :

I. The 1999 White Paper on Rural Development Ensuring the Future - A Strategy for Rural Development in Ireland , 

II. The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, and

III. The National Countryside Recreation Strategy including the Walks Scheme and Comhairle na Tuaithe.

In addition, the Western Development Commission operates under the aegis of my Department. A number of other Departments administer schemes directed at rural communities e.g. Department of Social Protection administers the Rural Social Scheme and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport administers the Rural Transport Programme.

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 earlier this week 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, and I and my colleagues in Government will give due consideration to its findings and make decisions regarding the appropriate actions to be taken.