Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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673. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a research and consultancy project (details supplied) that has been contracted by her Department can be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3191/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021 - 2025, commits to developing an effective rural proofing model to ensure that the needs of rural communities are considered in the development of Government policies.

Following a competitive tendering process, my Department appointed independent consultants to undertake research and develop proposals for an effective rural proofing model for Ireland. The report’s recommendations were examined in detail with a view to informing the Department's approach to developing a plan for a new rural proofing model.

The recent 13th OECD Rural Development Conference further informed our understanding of international practice. A key learning arising is that no one size fits all approach exists and that a pilot approach increases the chances of rural proofing being effective.

As part of a phased approach my Department will work with a number of Departments in 2023 on a pilot basis to trial a new, proactive approach to screening policies through a “rural lens”.

I have asked my officials to engage with all Government Departments to identify areas to work collaboratively on in 2023. A number of areas have already been identified, such as on the development of the Sustainable Tourism Policy, the review of the National Planning Framework and the development of the cross departmental National Hubs Strategy, and initial engagements have already taken place in this regard.

Under this pilot approach, Departments will consider the likely impact of their policies on rural areas at an early stage in their development, and, where necessary, adjust the policy to ensure that the rural perspective is incorporated.

The consultant's report is an important and valuable reference as we develop our approach to rural proofing and the report is now available on my Department's website at the below link.

www.gov.ie/en/collection/06a3d-rural-proofing-proposals-for-a-rural-proofing-model-for-ireland/