Written answers

Thursday, 15 September 2022

Department of Rural and Community Development

Offshore Islands

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update the Islands Strategy; when the strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44714/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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.

In December 2019, the Government launched a consultation paper with input from the participating Departments to act as a basis to advance the development of an island policy. The Government’s ambition in a national policy and action plan for the islands was set out in chapter 10 of Our Rural Future, the Action Plan for Rural Development 2021-2025, published in 2021.

The most recent meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Islands was held on 22 June 2022, where it was agreed that committee members would review their own Department’s draft input and revert with revised actions where appropriate.

The next meeting of the Inter-Departmental Committee is scheduled for early October, where it is expected Committee members will be able to share their feedback, observations and recommendations regarding the initial draft of the policy.

My Department is continuing to engage with relevant Government Departments and State bodies to assess how they might help address the various issues raised by island communities during this consultation process.

An initial draft of the policy is nearing completion. It sets out the context for the policy, provides a high-level analysis of the current opportunities and challenges and defines strategic objectives.

The policy and action plan is due to be completed in the coming months and it is my intention to have it published by the end of the year.

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