Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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408. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is the title of her Department and whether she anticipates there will be any further changes to the name of her Department or her Department’s functions; the sections of staff which have been assigned or transferred between Departments as a consequence of changes to her ministerial and departmental structure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4100/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established on 9^thJune 2016 with responsibility for all functions that previously came within the remit of the former Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, alongside a range of new responsibilities in relation to regional development and rural affairs.

Reflecting the importance of regional development and rural affairs in the Programme for a Partnership Government,a new Regional Development and Rural Affairs Division was established within my Department, with a key focus on the delivery of the EU co-funded Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (LEADER) which transferred from the former Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government along with sections managing Rural Development Schemes, the Western Development Commission, the Dormant Accounts Fund and social enterprise.

In addition sections dealing with the rollout of rural broadband and supporting the rural post office network transferred to my Department from the former Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The configuration of Departments generally is a matter for Government, in the context of the Programme for Government and other emerging priorities. There are no proposals for any further changes to the structure of my Department at this time.