The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has announced that Pat Spillane will be the Chairman of the new Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA).

Minister Hogan said: "Getting people back to work remains this Government’s number one objective. Building on the Action Plan for Jobs, Jobsbridge and the new initiatives I announced in Putting People First which empowers Local Government to drive economic development and create jobs at a local level, I am now establishing a new Commission that will generate a jobs strategy for rural Ireland. Too often policy is created at central government, I believe it is the people on the ground, who often have the answers to the challenges we are facing. The Commission will examine the non farming, 'outside the farm gate' aspects of economic development in rural areas and undertake an extensive public consultation on the future economic potential of rural Ireland and how best to channel funding and resources between 2013 and 2025."

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A number of commitments relating to economic development contained in the Programme for Government, in particular, commitments to encourage job creation and sustainable enterprise development, are reliant on the ability of all parts of Ireland to contribute to economic growth going forward.

The Commission will involve 3 stages:

A nationwide consultation of rural stakeholders including employers, unions, farm bodies, community organisation and the public sector

Research and analysis of economic factors affecting rural areas

The preparation of a report supporting the medium-term economic development of the Rural Areas for the period to 2025

Commenting on the appointment of the Chairman, Minister Hogan said: "Pat Spillane is the ideal candidate to act as Chairman of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas. He has been a leader throughout his life, whether it be on the sporting field, where he won 9 All-Star awards, in his professional life as a School Principal in St. Gobán’s College, Bantry or in his media career. Coming form a rural area Templenoe in County Kerry, where he lives with his wife and three children, and helping since his childhood days in running the family pub business, he has direct experience of the challenges facing rural Ireland. He is a passionate, enthusiastic and non-partisan champion of rural issues. Pat will do a great job in working with the Commission to deliver recommendations to create jobs in rural Ireland."

(CD/GK)