Rural commitment unchanged

THERE is no diminution of commitment to rural communities by the Government – despite the term “rural” being dropped from the title of his Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, according to Minister Pat Carey.

“An essential element of Government policy has always been and will continue to be maintaining vibrant, sustainable rural communities,” he said. “I consider the reference to ‘community’ to be sufficiently broad and embracing in order that it can and will encompass urban and rural communities,” he said.

Mr Carey said his Department will manage and oversee a broad range of programmes which will impact positively on rural Ireland – including the EU co-sponsored rural development programme, through which investment of more than €420 million will be made until 2013, with €40m available for allocation this year.

The Clár programme, with a budget of €8m this year, and a range of rural recreation initiatives for which funding of €4m is available in 2010, are included in the work of the Department – which will take over social inclusion policy and family policy from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and equality, disability, integration and human rights from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Mr Carey was responding to a Dáil query from Deputy Michael Ring.