Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress made to date with consultations on the action plan for rural Ireland; the intended date of the publication of the plan; the consultation proposed on the draft plan with the relevant Oireachtas committee or committees; when implementation of the plan will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31439/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Rural Development will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government for the benefit of rural Ireland.

Progress is now well under way on the development of the Action Plan. In September, I wrote to my Cabinet colleagues seeking inputs to the Plan. I took the opportunity to brief Oireachtas members on 29th September on the approach being taken in the development of the Action Plan and I invited members to offer practical suggestions for measures which could support both economic and social development in rural Ireland. I also invited the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to provide an input to the development of the Plan.

Over the last few weeks, my Department conducted an extensive consultation process through a series of workshops around the country, to seek the views of people living and working in rural Ireland on potential measures for inclusion in the Action Plan. My Department has also held a series of bilateral meetings with key stakeholder groups.

My officials are currently working through the many suggestions received arising from the consultation process and my objective is to publish the Action Plan for Rural Development before the end of the year.

My Department has already implemented a number of initiatives which will form part of the multi-annual Action Plan and which will be built on in 2017 and beyond. These include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the REDZ Initiative, the LEADER programme, and the CLÁR Programme. Their combined impact, along with other initiatives across Government, will make a real and sustainable difference to rural Ireland.