Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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248. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new policy on the islands will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2061/21]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the islands report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1999/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 250 together.

Prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic my Department had been engaged in a process of consultation with island communities in relation to the development of a new Islands Policy. This consultation was carried out through structured public meetings on the islands. The consultation process had to be temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and to avoid health risks both for the island communities and Departmental officials.

The consultation process was re-commenced through an on-line format in the final quarter of 2020 and will conclude shortly. The Department will also consult with other key stakeholders such as Government Departments and Local Authorities through an on-line approach.

In the meantime, arrangements are being made to convene a meeting in the coming weeks of the Inter-Departmental Committee which was established to oversee the development of the Islands Policy.

The Committee will review progress to date and consider the main messages which have emerged from the consultation process. The scope and structure for the drafting of the new policy will also be agreed at that meeting, and the final phases of the consultation process involving discussions with individual Departments will be mapped out.

I envisage that the new Islands Policy will be published in the second half of this year. The policy will be a significant milestone for our offshore islands and will include recommendations to support a cross-Departmental approach to the future development of the islands.