Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1006. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of meetings held by the Atlantic Economic Corridor task force by date and location of each meeting in tabular form; the details of each sub-group established under the AEC; the meetings to date; and the annual funding allocation to the AEC task force in each of the years 2017 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [54279/18]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to support the development of the western part of the country, from Donegal to Kerry.

The objective of the AEC project is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and combine the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for people in the region. The National Planning Framework recognises the contribution which the AEC initiative can make to supporting the regional growth objectives of the NPF.

Minister Ring established the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce in March 2017 to oversee and progress the initiative. I now chair the Taskforce which meets every quarter, with the most recent meeting taking place on the 10th of December 2018. To date, there have been eight meetings of the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce, the details of which are below.

The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce

AEC Communications Subgroup

I have also provided additional funding of €500,000 to the Western Development Commission for 2018, part of which will be used to support the work of the Taskforce.

My Department has also provided smaller levels of funding for the production of some communications materials and general logistical support for the Taskforce.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1007. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of each local authority along the AEC that has and has not a designated AEC officer in tabular form; the amount of co-funding provided to each local authority along the AEC in each of the years 2017 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and amount expended in each local authority to date in 2019. [54280/18]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to support the development of the western part of the country, from Donegal to Kerry.

The objective of the AEC project is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and combine the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for people in the region. The National Planning Framework recognises the contribution which the AEC initiative can make to supporting the regional growth objectives of the NPF.

My Department provides co-funding for a dedicated AEC Officer in each of the Local Authorities along the Corridor. This AEC Officer network provides a resource to support the work of the AEC Taskforce which oversees the initiative, and to promote the AEC concept across the region as a whole.

At the present time, the majority of Local Authorities engaged in the AEC programme have appointed a dedicated AEC Officer, with a small number providing a staff member to the AEC Officer Network on an interim basis while they are actively engaged in an ongoing recruitment processes. The position is outlined on the following table:

The AEC Officers were appointed at different stages of the year by each Local Authority and a pro-rata subvention was provided in respect of 2018, based on their respective dates of appointment.

A subvention of €30,000 was paid to each Local Authority towards the end of last year towards the salary cost of the Officers for 2019. No other funding was provided for in 2017 or to date in 2019.

The amounts paid to each Local Authority are provided on the table below: