Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement he has had with the Western Development Commission, WDC; the steps that are being taken to fulfil the commitment in A Programme for A Partnership Government to enhance the role of the WDC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25379/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Western Development Commission (WDC) was established on a statutory basis in 1999 as part of a response to the severe population decline in the Western Region at that time. The remit of the Commission is to promote the economic and social development of the Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare.

The Commission has achieved a lot since its establishment, and I believe it has an important role to play in the Government’s emphasis on achieving more effective regional development through initiatives such as the Regional Action Plan for Jobs, the Action Plan for Rural Development, the development of Atlantic Economic Corridor and the National Planning Framework.

Minister Ring appointed a new Board to the WDC in August 2017 and has delegated responsibility for oversight of the Commission to me. I met with the new Chair and the Acting CEO in November 2017, and last month I met with the new Board to discuss issues of priority for both the WDC and the Department.

There is also on-going engagement between my Department and the WDC at executive level to deepen the Commission’s involvement in the regional development agenda and to benefit from their experience.

In this context, the WDC has been involved in an increasing number of initiatives. For example:

- The WDC is represented on the Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development and on the Implementing Committees which oversee the delivery of the Action Plans for Jobs for the West and North-West regions.

- The Commission is also represented on the Taskforce which I chair to progress the development of an Atlantic Economic Corridor area along the western seaboard. The WDC has been a key contributor to sub-groups of this Taskforce.

The Commission also continues to implement initiatives to support the development of SMEs and emerging sectors in the western region. I recently launched a new €2 million fund for the Commission to encourage the film, television, animation and games industry in the West of the country. I look forward to continuing to work with the new Board as they seek to support the regional development agenda.