Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has considered proposing that all legislation passing through Dáil Éireann be rural-proofed by his Department (details supplied). [25907/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently examines all policy Memoranda being submitted to Government to assess the potential impact of policy proposals on rural development.  My Department is also represented on a number of Interdepartmental groups and ensures that the impact on rural development of proposals being discussed in those groups is appropriately considered. 

The Action Plan for Rural Development also contains a measure to develop a new and effective rural proofing model which will ensure that rural development issues are considered in the decision-making processes of all Government Departments, State bodies and agencies.

In this regard, my Department intends to establish a working group shortly, which will include representation from other Government Departments, to consider the issue of a formal rural proofing model which can be applied across Government Departments and State Agencies.