Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will advise on the development of the forthcoming islands strategy; the status and estimated timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8608/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 year policy on island development with associated 3 year action plans. Work on the policy is well underway and my Department has now completed the bilateral meetings with all relevant Government Departments. The bilateral meetings have provided an opportunity for frank discussion of the issues raised by island communities and for Departments to assess how they might help address the various issues raised.

The Interdepartmental Committee for the Islands held its most recent meeting on Monday 29th November 2021, during which the participating Departments reviewed progress on the policy development and agreed the next steps to be taken. It was agreed at this meeting that the various Departments would submit a list of action points that they could undertake to further enhance the future development and sustainability of communities on our offshore islands

Work has begun on an initial draft of the policy document and I understand that, based on the development work to date, a draft is expected to be ready for my consideration by the middle of this year.