Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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522. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to outline the extent to which progress continues on meeting the need to ensure an adequacy of services to rural Ireland, thereby meeting the education, health and security need of rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27187/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a suite of commitments for delivery across Government relating to the protection of local services in rural Ireland. The measures detailed in the Programme include the provision of next-generation broadband coverage, addressing the renewal of the Post Office network, supporting local jobseekers, and the provision of other services in areas such as education, health and security.

From my own Department’s perspective, I have recently established a National Taskforce on Mobile Phone and Broadband Access with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten T.D., to identify practical measures which can be taken in the short-term to improve broadband and mobile phone reception in rural areas. I have also established two Regional Broadband Action Groups, involving all of the Local Authorities in the country, to prepare for the roll-out of broadband under the National Broadband Plan once contracts are awarded in 2017. My Department is also working on proposals for the renewal of the Post Office network, including through the Post Office Hub Working Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Michael Ring. This Group is identifying potential models under which the post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas.

I am currently developing an Action Plan for Rural Development which will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government which have the potential to benefit rural Ireland. The implementation of these initiatives will contribute significantly to the protection and enhancement of local services and help generate increased economic activity in rural areas.

The Action Plan for Rural Development will be published by the end of the year.