Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress that has been made on the proposal in the 1996 Strategic Framework for Offshore Islands to establish an island product marketing group. [29543/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am working to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the islands, and I have made this one of the key elements of Our Rural Future, the Government’s new Rural Development Policy.  Furthermore, my Department is currently developing a new National Islands Policy, a central objective of which is to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the offshore islands.

The Interdepartmental Committee referred to by the Deputy was established in June 1993, and went on to publish its report “A strategic framework for developing the offshore islands” in 1996.

Whilst a specific island product marketing group was not established, the intervening years did see the establishment of a number of support initiatives to assist island producers including schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraints scheme which provides payments to people farming land on offshore islands. It aims to support the continuation of farming in these area by compensating farmers for the additional costs involved in farming such land. 

Support for enterprise, cultural and social development has been provided through grants to development companies on the non-Gaeltacht islands and cooperatives on the Gaeltacht islands who provide support services and advice to island communities. These bodies have also played a role to advance LEADER, EU and local LEO projects.

Fáilte Ireland has also developed a range of promotional campaigns, recognising the value of islands as cultural destinations.

The development of a new Islands Policy is an objective within the Programme for Government, and will build on what has been achieved to date. A series of bilateral meetings with various Government Departments are now underway, to apprise the Departments of the findings of the consultations and to explore how Departments might address the issues raised by island communities.

These discussions will contribute to the preparation by my Department of a new 10-year policy for the development of the islands, with associated three-year Action Plans, which will underpin island development for the next decade.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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556. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the work that has been done on an all-Ireland basis to ensure the reliance of County Donegal offshore island communities on their nearest city of Derry to meet their economic and social needs is addressed through regional cross-Border planning; if she or her predecessors raised this issue at the North-South Ministerial Council; and if research has been conducted on the negative impact of partition on the economic life and provision of services to offshore island communities and the way this can be addressed. [29546/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises that economic sustainability and ready access to services are key to  retaining the next generation of islanders and to overcoming the many issues for island communities which arise from their separation from the mainland.  As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently in the process of drafting a new  National Islands Policy. A central objective of the policy is to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the offshore islands, a process which will draw on input from many Departments and national bodies.

Our Rural Future, the new National Rural Development policy covering the period 2021 - 2025 which contains a specific chapter on the islands, also contains a commitment to enhanced cooperation with our counterparts in Northern Ireland on issues related to the economic and social development of rural areas, including the islands.

Last month saw the first meeting of the new North-South Rural Policy Forum at which there was recognition of the many shared challenges and opportunities faced by rural communities in both jurisdictions.

I have also met with Minister Edwin Poots, both bilaterally and at the North-South Ministerial Council in October and November last year. Unfortunately our recent NSMC Sectoral meeting could not take place as scheduled but my hope is that this meeting can be rescheduled as I recognise the importance of these meaningful engagements.