Written answers

Thursday, 20 October 2016

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Departmental Functions

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will be seeking the transfer of further responsibilities for rural development to her Department such as for rural transport, the development of greenways, responsibility for mountain rescue, responsibility for farm assist and the rural social scheme; if not, her plans to seek such responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31101/16]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Supporting rural development is a key priority for this Government. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains over 80 commitments for delivery across a range of Departments and State agencies to revitalise rural Ireland and ensure that the benefits of economic recovery are felt in all regions. These Departments and agencies have the statutory authority, budgets and expertise in their own particular areas to make a positive contribution to rural development. It would not necessarily be effective or practicable to transfer all of these functions into a single Government Department. Indeed, the administrative processes required might not be cost-effective and could well delay the delivery of much-needed services to rural Ireland.A key to ensuring effective co-ordination of the effort to support rural development across Government will be the new Action Plan for Rural Development. Progress is well under way in my Department in preparing this Plan, which will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government which will benefit rural Ireland. My objective is to publish the Action Plan by the end of the year.

My Department will monitor progress on implementing the Plan on an on-going basis, and I will report progress to the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs, which is chaired by the Taoiseach. I will also publish Progress Reports on a regular basis.

My own Department has, of course, responsibility for a number of important programmes and initiatives which impact positively on rural Ireland, including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the REDZ Scheme, CLÁR, the LEADER programme, the Rural Recreation and Walks Schemes, and Mountain Rescue.

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