Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both contain a commitment to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor.  The concept was proposed in February 2016 by a group involving a number of Chambers of Commerce in the Western region and the American Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.

The overarching objective of the Atlantic Economic Corridor proposal is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for those who live there.

The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established by my colleague, Minister Michael Ring in March 2017 to progress the proposal.  As Minister of State I chair the Taskforce which includes senior representatives from the business sector, key Government Departments, other public bodies, and Third Level institutions.

The Taskforce has met four times since it was established - most recently in Sligo -  and will continue to meet on a regular basis. A number of sub-groups of the Taskforce have also been established to progress specific aspects of the overall proposal, such as examining infrastructure needs and enterprise property assets, and developing a communications strategy.

My Department has been working closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in the drafting of the National Planning Framework (NPF).  The Atlantic Economic Corridor, and the need to improve access to the North-West in particular, is referenced in the draft Framework which was published for public consultation in September 2017.  

My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government as they work towards finalising the NPF. The forthcoming capital investment plan will be closely aligned to the NPF.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

67. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the work undertaken on the development of the Atlantic economic corridor; his views on whether there are specific infrastructure projects which could form part of the corridor; and if his Department has sought the inclusion of the AEC in the national planning framework and the capital plan. [1289/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both contain a commitment to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor.  The concept was proposed in February 2016 by a group involving a number of Chambers of Commerce in the Western region and the American Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.

The overarching objective of the Atlantic Economic Corridor proposal is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for those who live there.

My department colleague, Minister Michael Ring TD, established the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce in March 2017 to progress the proposal and I now chair the Taskforce. The Taskforce includes senior representatives from the business sector, key Government Departments, other public bodies, and Third Level institutions.

The Taskforce has met four times since it was established and will continue to meet on a regular basis. A number of sub-groups of the Taskforce have also been established to progress specific aspects of the overall proposal, such as examining infrastructure needs and enterprise property assets, and developing a communications strategy.

Work on developing the AEC and identifying possible elements is ongoing. One project which I believe forms part of the AEC is the Western Rail Corridor which exemplifies what we are trying to achieve with the AEC in strengthening connectivity between growth centres. In my view the AEC would be strengthened with the continued development of the Rail Corridor, for example from Athenry to Claremorris, and the examination of other extensions such as a rail connection from Sixmilebridge to Shannon Airport. 

On the AEC my department will continue to engage with stakeholders, including other Government departments, on its development.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

68. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the labour training and support measures his Department will make available to rural communities in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1738/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In January 2017, Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development was launched.  The Plan contains over 270 actions to be delivered by a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies to support the economic and social development of rural Ireland. 

The Action Plan contains measures across a range of policy areas which will help to maintain and revitalise rural communities across the country.  A key component of the Plan is to support the creation of jobs throughout the regions to ensure that people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally.  The Plan aims to deliver 135,000 extra jobs outside of Dublin by 2020.

A number of actions in the Action Plan for Rural Ireland refer to SICAP and its role in supporting rural job seekers and disadvantaged groups.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration.  It is managed and overseen by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area, with funding coming from this Department, and co-funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability and Learning 2014-2020. 

SICAP 2018-2022 came into operation on 1 January 2018. It remains the main social inclusion programme of Government supporting local community groups and individuals such as low income workers, young people not in education, employment or training, or who live in disadvantaged areas, through community development approaches to become less socially excluded. SICAP worked with 47,000 individuals in 2016, many of whom increased their work-readiness, received help in accessing employment or self-employment, or who received support to access a life-long-learning opportunity.

SICAP 2018-2022 was designed to reflect government policy and priorities, Ireland’s changing social and economic landscape, and learning from the previous iteration of the Programme including the findings from an extensive consultation process, led out on by Minister Catherine Byrne, that was held in 2017, and also by the provisional findings from a series of evaluations by the ESRI on particular components of SICAP. 

The next 6-monthly Progress Report on the implementation of the Action Plan will be published in February and I look forward to working with rural communities and our colleagues in other Government Departments and State agencies in continuing to drive the rural development agenda in 2018.

The Community Services Programme, which was transferred to my Department on 1 January, supports community organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through the application of a social enterprise model of delivery. One of the objectives of this Programme is to create sustainable jobs for those most distant from the labour market, in particular for those who are long term unemployed and from specific target groups.  Some 425 contracts are in place with service providers nationally. The 2018 budget for the programme is €46.3m.