Relevant Actions in Agreed Programme
Actions in the Agreed Programme for Government for implementation by the Department, or to which
it will be a significant contributor or have a material interest, are set out below:
Building Peace and Justice
- We will work to consolidate the success of the North-South Ministerial Council, and of the
Implementation Bodies. We will also cooperate with the British Government in the British-Irish
Intergovernmental Conference and bilaterally, on non-devolved matters.
- Within the framework of the British-Irish Council, we will seek to develop strong bilateral relations
with Scotland and Wales, as well as with the UK as a whole.
Employment and Enterprise
- We support the positive role of the Community Employment Scheme to meet the needs of both the
long-term unemployed and communities.
Research, Development and Innovation
- We will ensure that that the full range of options, including wireless technologies, are utilised to
expand broadband access in rural areas.
Developing The Regions and The Islands
- We will identify proposals to provide a subsidised cargo service to islands in consultation with
island communities and ferry operators.
- We will provide a new fixed wing air service to Tory Island, Co. Donegal and Inisbofin, Co. Galway
and upgrade the existing infrastructure at Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, Co. Galway.
- We will provide Broadband technology to offshore islands.
- We will introduce home improvement grants, in line with the home improvement grants
available to Gaeltacht Communities, to non-Gaeltacht islands, and will increase the level of new
house grants on non-Gaeltacht islands to the same level as that available on Gaeltacht Islands.
- We will include transport costs for schoolchildren as a constituent part of the Remote Area Grant.
- We will ensure that healthcare provision on the offshore islands is developed in line with the
principles of the Health Strategy, particularly in relation to the expansion of primary care services.
- We will establish Comhairle na nOileán.
An Integrated Transport Policy
Rural Transport
- We will continue to support the Rural Transport Initiative which will run until end 2003.
- We will ensure that every county has a comprehensive rural transport initiative in place.
- We will embark on a new initiative to further develop localised bus services, particularly in rural
areas.
Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
Rural Development
- We will give a clear priority to the protection and development of rural communities.
- We will continue the CLÁR programme, ensuring annual funding and publishing annual reports
on progress. When the relevant results of the Census are available we will review the data and
consider additional areas for inclusion.
- We will establish a Rural Social Economy Programme which will provide secure, communityrelated,
employment opportunities for persons in families eligible for the Farm Assist scheme.
- We will ensure the implementation of the County Development Strategies in a coordinated way
by all agencies, especially in respect to the encouragement of small rural enterprises.
- We will examine the planning guidelines for small rural enterprises and complete the review
within twelve months.
- We will seek to develop the agriculture colleges as wider rural development resources.
- We will support rural post offices and seek to develop commercial services in rural areas with
specific investment being made in developing the Government Services Agency approach to
provide additional services.
Building an Inclusive Society
- We recognise the need to work hard to include all communities in the benefits of recent progress
and will, in particular, ensure that all state agencies prioritise integrated work in areas of
significant disadvantage. This will be a priority under the next phase of public sector reform.
- We will continue to support initiatives to expand corporate social responsibility.
Crime
- We will extend the use of CCTV cameras and also grant aid local communities to provide them.
Equality & Law Reform
- A comprehensive reform of the law relating to charities will be enacted to ensure accountability
and to protect against abuse of charitable status and fraud.
Tackling Drug Abuse
- We will ensure that an early-warning system, involving all key agencies, is in place to track the
potential spread of heroin into new areas.
- We will publish annual reports of activity and progress towards the achievement of specific
prevention, supply reduction and treatment targets.
- We will ensure that regional drugs task forces operate efficiently to ensure that prevention
programmes are active in all areas of the country.
Regenerating Disadvantaged Communities
- We will develop the RAPID initiative in our most disadvantaged communities as a priority
programme. When the small areas data is made available from the latest Census we will review
the areas covered and consider additional areas for inclusion.
- We will continue the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund.
- Each relevant Government Department will allocate specific staff whose principal duty will be to
ensure that the Department is effectively engaged with the RAPID communities along the lines of
the final report of the Integrated Services Process.
- Each Department will publish, as part of its annual report, a statement of the work undertaken to
support Integrated Services work in these areas.
- We will ensure democratic legitimacy on local boards appointed to implement development
programmes.
Better Facilities for Sport & Recreation
- We will create, under the Local Government Fund, a new Community Facilities Fund which will
support the development of community facilities not covered by existing schemes.
The Irish Language and The Gaeltacht
- We will use the report of the Gaeltacht Commission - An Comisiún faoin nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht -
as the basis for future policy.
- A West Coast Digital Corridor will be developed to provide high-quality broadband
telecommunications facilities for both Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht communities from Donegal to
Cork. Údarás na Gaeltachta will be charged with facilitating the provision of similar facilities in
any Gaeltacht areas not covered by the Corridor, where demand exists, including offshore islands.
- We will enact the Official Languages Equality Bill.
- Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge will be fully reviewed in the context of modern day needs, and ways to
promote the Irish language among young people will be examined.
- Youth and sports funding schemes will be reviewed in the context of their impact in the
Gaeltacht and Islands.
- An Foras will be requested to develop materials specifically for families who wish to raise their
children through the medium of Irish.
- The major works programme for Gaeltacht infrastructure under the National Development Plan
will be completed.
- A comprehensive study of the current status of the language in the Irish media will be
undertaken.
- The Language Assistant scheme in Gaeltacht schools will be strengthened and expanded to
include cooperation with parents in the home.
- A comprehensive review of the needs of all Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools will be
undertaken. As part of the work of the Department of Education & Science, the physical
condition of all buildings used by these schools will be reviewed and a programme put in place to
ensure that they meet required standards.
- The development of the Gaeltacht infrastructure will continue through the schemes operated by
the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
- The improvements carried out under the strategic roads scheme will continue, to ensure that the
road infrastructure in remoter areas of the Gaeltacht will be improved and that there is at least
one good road into every Gaeltacht area.
- The relevant national schemes will be reviewed to ensure that appropriate supports are in place
for the Irish language childcare sector throughout the country.
- A strategic review will be completed in relation to the employment support work of Údarás na
Gaeltachta with a view to identifying new strands of employment creation in Gaeltacht areas.
- We will support the development of Irish medium 3rd level education and research activities on
campus and, where appropriate and sustainable, in Gaeltacht education centres.