Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2006. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to receive a report on rural-proofing; if it will be immediately published; when she intends to bring forward proposals having considered the report, as committed to in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29108/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades.

The policy contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability.

The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective to maximise opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas.  It recognises that rural areas play an integral role in the economic, social and cultural recovery and wellbeing of the country.

The policy commits to developing an effective rural proofing model. This will aim to ensure that all departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities and the need to better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing rural areas.

Following a competitive tender process, my Department engaged independent consultants to fully examine the issue of rural proofing in Ireland in order to provide a strong evidence basis for  further action. Their work included consideration of rural proofing initiatives internationally so as to inform our approach based on the experiences of others.

The consultants have now provided my Department with their final report which will be given full and detailed consideration to determine the next steps. My objective is to deliver an effective, efficient and implementable rural proofing model that will support rural policy development and ensure that we capitalise on the opportunities for rural areas to the greatest extent possible.