Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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102. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 15 September 2022, the status of the new policy for the islands; if she will provide an update on the work of the interdepartmental committee for the islands; the date of the last meeting of the committee; if she will provide a timeline for the completion of the new policy and action plan for the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53792/22]

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. Indeed the Programme for Government includes a commitment in this regard and, as Minister with responsibility for the islands, I am determined to ensure the policy is delivered.

The Government’s ambition for 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 Deputy will be aware that an extensive consultation process has been completed by my Department, including meetings with island communities and relevant Government Departments and agencies. The feedback from this consultation process provided a valuable insight into the key priorities, and indeed challenges and opportunities, for our island communities.

An interdepartmental committee for the Islands was also established and its most recent meeting was held on 10 October 2022, where the initial draft was shared with committee members. The committee members were asked to review their Department’s draft input, and revert with revised actions, as well as to share their feedback, observations and overall recommendations regarding the initial draft of the policy.

I expect the policy and action plan to be finalised before the end of the year.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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103. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the purposes of the LEADER programme; her plans for the islands around the coast to be recognised as one region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53795/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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LEADER is a key programme within Our Rural Future, and I am very happy to confirm that the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open. The allocations for each LEADER area have also been announced as part of this process.

The procedure to select the LEADER groups will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Groups will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme in rural communities all across Ireland.

As is the case with the current LEADER programme, the sub regional areas for the new LEADER programme will correspond with county boundaries. This alignment will help to ensure coherence of LEADER funding with other initiatives and policies delivered on a county basis, thus helping to deliver the best impact and value for money for LEADER.

The off-shore islands will continue to be aligned with their relevant sub-regional area and a separate Island Local Action Group (LAG) will not form part of the LEADER delivery model.

However, I am aware that island communities have particular needs and priorities and, within the context of the emerging National Islands Policy, I envisage that the LEADER programme can play a key role in delivering on these needs.

In recognition of this, a number of important elements are included in the model for the new programme.

Any LAGs selected in an area that includes island communities will be required to identify in their LEADER strategy specific actions developed in consultation with the island communities themselves and include an indicative budget to implement such actions.

In addition, a representative of the island grouping, in each sub-regional area, must be included in the decision-making body of the LAG.

Full details of the selection process for LAGs for the 2023 -2027 programme are available on my Department’s website.

I look forward to the implementation of the new LEADER programme and to ensuring that LEADER can continue to deliver real benefits to rural communities across Ireland including our island communities.