The new Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and Gaeltacht has vowed to oversee the revitalisation of rural Ireland while ensuring all Government policies are rural-proofed.

The remodelled Department was announced by the Taoiseach last Friday during the formation of the new Government.

It will retain all of the existing responsibilities of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, as well as wide-ranging new responsibilities.

The Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts & the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, said that as someone who has lived all of her life in rural Ireland, she understands the issues, challenges and opportunities it faces.

“We must rural-proof our policies, right across Government, to ensure they are having a positive impact on rural communities,” said Humphreys.

Humphreys has vowed to work with other Departments to provide greater political co-ordination on areas that impact rural Ireland.

This includes the Department of Jobs, which will be rolling out a new €500 million jobs investment fund to benefit many regional towns and villages.

“I will also be developing a new Town and Village Renewal Scheme in time for next year’s Budget.”

Humphreys is married to a farmer and lives on the family farm in Monaghan and grew up on a farm near neighbouring Drum village.

She worked with Ulster Bank and prior to her election to Dáil Éireann was Manager of Cootehill Credit Union.

“Heather’s financial experience in both personal and business matters combined with a farming background makes her a very strong voice for rural Ireland,” said a Department spokesperson.

Department’s ‘Clearing House Forum’

According to the same Department spokesperson, it will effectively create a “clearing house forum” to investigate the best ideas to advance economic and social progress in rural Ireland (a clearing house is a business that banks use to exchange checks and money between them).

It will also work to implement the best proposals in partnership with the rest of Government.

Part of the Department’s new responsibilities include regional development, rural affairs, the post office network and the roll-out of rural broadband.

The Minister will also be responsible for the implementation of the CEDRA report by the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas.

“The Minister is committed to working across Government and the Oireachtas to deliver the best possible results for rural Ireland,” the spokesperson said.

“This will include the development of a new Action Plan for Rural Ireland, and a new Cabinet Committee on Rural Affairs, which will be chaired by the Taoiseach.”

Roll-Up For Roll-Out

The new Minister said she wanted to revitalise rural Ireland by improving the living and working environment of local communities.

“One of the single most important initiatives under my new brief is the roll-out of rural broadband.”

This will require a significant investment: more than €275 million has been “earmarked” to date.

“The Government has said that 85% of premises will have access to high-speed broadband within two years, with 100% access as soon as possible after that, up to a maximum of 5 years,” said Humphreys.

The rural broadband tender process is underway and it’s expected a contract will be awarded by mid-2017.

“I also look forward to working with the Post Office network, which of course is a vital supplier of services to rural Ireland.

“This has the potential to provide a new model of community banking,” said Humphreys.

IFA Weigh-In

IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chairman Thomas Cooney today wished the Humphreys well in her new role.

“Minister Humphreys and all Government Ministers must deliver a more balanced economic recovery across the regions,” Cooney said.

IFA has identified the following ten key action points to kick start a re-energised rural economy.

The Association said it will work with Humphreys and her colleagues in Government to deliver the following for farm families and all rural dwellers:

A high quality rural fibre broadband network across the countryside, to support farm business, job creation, investment and rural development.

A three-year exemption from local authority rates for new business start-ups to support local enterprise development in rural areas.
Measures, such as tax-credits, to encourage employers to take on apprentices and create long term employment.
Tax incentives for businesses to locate in villages and town centres, which have been decimated during the recession.
Increased and measurable targets for policing hours and presence of mobile units in rural areas by An Garda Síochána, to reduce crime and create a greater sense of security in the countryside.
An increased and ring-fenced annual rural roads budget from the Department of Transport each year, allocated to local authorities as part of a planned repair and maintenance programme.  The re-establishment of a separate local improvement scheme fund in each local authority.
An increase in the number of voluntary rural walk schemes to support economic development and tourism in rural areas.
A package of measures to facilitate the development of proposed Greenway projects, which works in co-operation with landowners impacted and protects their rights.
A review of the hedge cutting dates, to reduce the closed period, in line with the nesting season.
Increased fines and greater enforcement by local authorities to tackle the scourge of littering by passing motorists and users of the countryside.

Last Word To The Department

According to the Department spokesperson, the Programme for Government announced last week includes numerous commitments to address a wide range of the issues raised by the IFA.

This includes the provision of high-quality rural broadband, a doubling of the number of apprenticeships, an increase in the rural roads budget, double the funding for the Rural Walks Scheme and significant funding for Greenways.

“Minister Humphreys has also already published legislation to deal with the closed period for hedge cutting,” the spokesperson said.