Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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177. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by the outgoing chairperson of the Western Development Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22245/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the recent comments made by the former Chair of the Western Development Commission (WDC), questioning the Government’s commitment to regional and rural development and I do not agree with the views which he expressed.

Regional and rural development is a key priority for the Government and this is reflected in the many commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government to support regional and rural progress. Significant developments in this regard include the publication of the Action Plan for Rural Development, the establishment of a Taskforce to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor, the implementation of the regional Action Plans for Jobs, and the development of a National Planning Framework which is being coordinated on behalf of the Government by Minister Coveney.

The Programme for a Partnership Government also includes a specific commitment to reinforce the role of the WDC so that it continues to play an important part in the Government’s efforts to achieve more effective regional development.

In this context, the WDC has been involved in an increasing number of initiatives, some of which go beyond the role the body has played to date, and which can develop its potential further. For example:

- The WDC is represented on the Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development which is chaired by Minister Humphreys. The WDC is assisting my Department, as part of a sub-group of the Monitoring Committee, in developing indicators to measure the impact of the Action Plan on rural communities.

- The WDC is also represented on the Implementing Committees which oversee the delivery of the Action Plans for Jobs for the West and North-West regions.

- The Commission is represented on the Taskforce which I established in March to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor along the western seaboard. The WDC is involved in a sub-group of the Taskforce which is mapping out the options for EU funding which could support the development of the Western region.

- The WDC has also assisted my Department in participating in, and reporting on, a public Dialogue on the implications of Brexit for areas such as rural communities, regional SMEs, culture, the Irish language, and heritage and outdoor recreation.

The Commission’s role in these initiatives shows how their expertise and potential is being drawn upon to support the Government’s objective of supporting economic and social development across the regions.