◎ OireachtasDB

Dail Éireann · 2021-10-14

Part of Other Questions

Rural Schemes

LAB Seán Sherlock · Cork East

Party shown is the one held on 2021-10-14, frozen at parse time — not the speaker's party today.

Q18 LAB Seán Sherlock to the Minister for Rural and Community Development

18. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the input she has had in the development of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, strategic plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50093/21]

Q73 LAB Seán Sherlock to the Minister for Rural and Community Development

73. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the formal personal engagement she has had with communities and LEADER providers on the rural development element of the CAP pertaining to her Department in view of the national CAP consultation undertaken by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. [50092/21]

Jump to this contribution Download this speech (.txt)

Summary of this debate

Auto-generated

My officials have also engaged extensively with the Irish Local Development Network, ILDN, and other stakeholders, such as the Local Government Management Agency, in the design of the next LEADER programme. It is essential the new CAP and LEADER programme is firmly rooted in stakeholder consultation. The agreement of a new CAP strategic plan and a new LEADER programme from 2023 remains a key priority.

The ILDN has outlined, through its future LEADER working group, a document which, to my mind, represents a good direction of travel. I will continue to engage with the ILDN. Work on the design of the new LEADER programme from 2023 continues in conjunction with the stakeholders and the EU Commission.

Built by scoring every sentence in the debate on how distinctive its language is, then quoting the highest-scoring ones back word for word and in the order spoken. Nothing is paraphrased or invented — if a sentence appears here, it was said in the chamber. Drawn from 634 words across 4 contributions by 2 speakers.

Most used terms in this debate

How often each word appears across the whole debate, ranked by how distinctive it is to this debate rather than common to all parliamentary language.

ildn 7
leader 12
cap 6
programme 10
rural 7
roadshow 2
new 9
channel 2
gate 2
continues 4
design 3
extensively 2

The full debate

All 4 contributions, start to finish, in the order they were made. The one you came here for is highlighted.

LAB Seán Sherlock this contribution

I engaged with the Minister previously on CAP and its effects on LEADER funding. She acknowledged the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, is going around the country doing his roadshow at present. I wonder if the Minister is of a mind to do a similar type of roadshow. Certainly, we want to ensure that what will be secured inside the farm gate will be the best possible outcome for farmers, but also what will be secured outside the farm gate for rural dwellers and people living in rural Ireland is similarly important.

FG Heather Humphreys

I thank the Deputy for the question. The LEADER programme, as the Deputy knows, will continue to be a key component of the new Common Agricultural Policy from 2023. I am committed to ensuring the programme continues to play a central role in delivering on the Government's vision for rural Ireland, as set out in Our Rural Future. Indeed, the extensive public consultation undertaken by my Department in the preparation of Our Rural Future clearly highlighted the vital role LEADER continues to play.

My Department continues to engage extensively with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as the managing authority for the new CAP, as well as with the EU Commission, on the development of the new CAP strategic plan. My officials have also engaged extensively with the Irish Local Development Network, ILDN, and other stakeholders, such as the Local Government Management Agency, in the design of the next LEADER programme. I have also agreed to having regular meetings with the ILDN on a range of issues. I will continue to keep that channel of communication open.

It is essential the new CAP and LEADER programme is firmly rooted in stakeholder consultation. To that end, I recently initiated an external review of the current LEADER programme, which has involved extensive engagement with stakeholders. The outcome of this review will help to inform the design of the new LEADER programme. I expect to receive a report in this regard in the coming weeks. The agreement of a new CAP strategic plan and a new LEADER programme from 2023 remains a key priority. Ongoing stakeholder consultation will remain central to this process.

LAB Seán Sherlock

I welcome the Minister’s response. I welcome her specific reference to the Irish Local Development Network. The ILDN has outlined, through its future LEADER working group, a document which, to my mind, represents a good direction of travel. If there were to be greater traction on that document in terms of what the ILDN can deliver for rural Ireland, that would be a good way forward.

FG Heather Humphreys

I will continue to engage with the ILDN. It is always important that agencies that are delivering taxpayers’ money get an opportunity to raise their issues of concern with me directly. I do that, but my officials work with them closely. More than 4,700 projects to the total value of €198 million have been approved nationally by the local action groups since LEADER operations began in the mid-2016. Like the Deputy, I know the benefit of this funding on the ground, whether is to help businesses or communities. They give a wide range of funding and supports. We want that to continue in the new CAP programme.

The LEADER is a key plank in the delivery of Our Rural Future. The allocation of €70 million to the 2021-2022 transitional programme reflects this. Work on the design of the new LEADER programme from 2023 continues in conjunction with the stakeholders and the EU Commission. We obviously have to work within the parameters the EU lays down for this funding. I have met twice with the ILDN on a range of issues since my appointment. I will continue to keep this channel of communication open. The ILDN meets regularly with my officials.

Download this debate (.txt)