Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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983. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the projects her Department is prioritising in budget 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26142/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The overall spending allocations for my Department for 2017 will be announced in the forthcoming Budget. As part of the ongoing budgetary process, I will seek to enhance, to the greatest extent possible, my Department's now expanded core functions and services provided to the public.

Against that background, my Department will, within the resources available in 2017, continue to place emphasis on:

- targeting investment in priority areas in the arts, culture and heritage sectors in line with the vision and priorities set out in the draft Framework Policy Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025;

- supporting sustainable communities in rural Ireland through an integrated cross-Government Action Plan for Rural Ireland, as well as targeted measures such as the LEADER programme, the Rural Recreation and Rural Walks schemes, the new Town & Village Renewal scheme, and the Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZs);

- working with local authorities in preparing for the roll-out of rural broadband once contracts are awarded in 2017, as well as developing proposals for the renewal of the Post Office network;

- supporting jobs in the film & TV sector and in the Gaeltacht;

- complying with relevant EU Directives, including investment in solutions for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting in raised bog Special Areas of Conservation; and

- supporting the built heritage and the strategic development of our national parks, as well as the development of our waterways in the context of the implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.