Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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845. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Islands; the number of times the committee has met in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27807/22]

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 three year action plans. Work on the policy is underway and my Department, as Chair of the Inter-Departmental Committee, is in regular contact with the other participating Government Departments regarding the development of the policy. 

The first meeting of the Inter-Departmental Committee in 2022 was scheduled for 31 March but unfortunately had to be postponed and was rescheduled for 18 May. At that meeting participating Departments reviewed progress on the policy development.  They also discussed action points that they could undertake to further enhance the future development and sustainability of communities on our offshore islands. 

The next meeting of the Inter-Departmental Committee has been provisionally scheduled in June.