Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs which of the recommendations contained in the 2020 Report on the Review of the Implementation of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 have been implemented by (i) his Department; (ii) the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute; and (iii) all public authorities.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: My Department undertook a review of the implementation of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 (the Act) in 2019. A report of the findings of the Rural Needs Working Group contained 18 recommendations for DAERA, one for Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and six for all public authorities.
Of the recommendations assigned to DAERA, 16 have been fully implemented. These are recommendations 1-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17-19 and 22-25. Recommendation 12 has been partially implemented but further research will be taken forward to implement the recommendation in full. Recommendation 21 has not been implemented yet, but it will be considered as part of future plans to complete a full review of the Act.
The recommendations which related to all public authorities (recommendations 5,7,10,13,14 and 20) have been fully implemented by DAERA. DAERA also shared the recommendations with all other public authorities listed in the Schedule to the Act.
AFBI has implemented recommendation 16.
I recognise that there is still scope for more to be done to help ensure that the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 delivers better outcomes for rural communities and I am keen that the Act is more widely reviewed now that it has been in operation for seven years. I have asked my officials to consider this in the development of new evidence-based rural policy proposals, which will be subject to public consultation next year.
ENDS
Your MLA 