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An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, launches the Charter for Rural Ireland in Co. Offaly with Minister Alan Kelly and Minister of State Phelan

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD launched the Charter for Rural Ireland today (Thursday 28th January 2016) in Crank House, Banagher, Co Offaly.

In launching the Charter the Taoiseach said “The Government has a long term economic plan to keep the recovery going and to ensure that it is felt across all parts of Ireland. The Rural Charter underpins this objective, builds on the work to support rural Ireland and brings forward a number of new actions and initiatives. In addition to the regional Action Plan for Jobs, the launch of this Charter makes a strong commitment to support the development of Ireland’s rural communities. The development of a specific Rural Development Policy Framework will ensure the ongoing and future sustainability of rural communities."

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will have primary responsibility for the implementation of the commitments in the Charter and in this context the event was also attended by Minister Alan Kelly, TD and Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Minister Ann Phelan, TD, the Minister with special responsibility for Rural Economic Development.

Minister Kelly reiterated his commitment to rural Ireland and said “this Charter will provide a solid framework on which future support for rural development can be built. It will also reinforce and improve coordination and cooperation not only between Government Departments and agencies but also between these bodies and rural communities themselves thereby ensuring that all interested parties are working together to support the sustainable development of rural Ireland.”

In this context Minister Phelan outlined the links between the Charter and the work of CEDRA saying “the work of CEDRA prompted a rethink regarding the systems and frameworks needed to support rural development and also introduced new ways of thinking about rural communities in initiatives such as the REDZ. It was this thinking that has brought us to the launch of this Charter and I feel this is a very significant step forward in ensuring that rural communities are provided with the support they need to make a valuable contribution to the future prosperity of the island as a whole.”