Ministers taking action to build vibrant rural communities
8 Apr 2014 03:30 PM
Two Welsh Government
Ministers set out their commitment to tackling poverty in rural Wales and
creating vibrant communities at an event in Carmarthenshire yesterday (Monday 7
April 2014).
The Minister for Natural
Resources and Food, Alun Davies, explained how his plans to invest nearly
£1 billion in rural Wales will strengthen Welsh farm businesses, support
Wales’s wider rural economy and create opportunities for future
generations.
Also speaking at the event was the Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty,
Vaughan Gething, who set out how the RDP is an essential tool to tackle rural
poverty. The Tackling Poverty Action Plan and the RDP will be utilised to help
prevent rural poverty in the longer term, help people into work and mitigate
the impact of poverty.
Speaking at the conference, Alun Davies said:
“I am committed to using
all the resources we have to tackle poverty so that opportunities for people
living and working in our rural communities are significantly improved.
“The budget for the next Rural Development Programme is £953
million. This is Wales’s largest ever RDP budget and will allow us to
support our rural communities in a meaningful and sustainable way. Job creation
and economic growth lie at the heart of our plans which focus on improving the
resilience of our farm businesses, improving land management and supporting
local food producers, while ensuring that natural resources are used
sustainably.
“We must act now to address the very real issue of poverty in rural Wales
and create opportunities to help establish a more secure future for our next
generations.”
The Minister encouraged people
to have their say on his plans for the next RDP by taking part in the ongoing
consultation which closes on 14 April 2014.
Vaughan Gething told attendees:
“We recognise that
challenges facing people living in rural communities are different from
challenges that exist in the more populated areas of Wales. I am committed to
tailoring our response and solutions to local needs.
“My principal responsibility is delivering the Welsh Government’s
Tackling Poverty Action Plan. Its targets and milestones have a strong focus on
preventing poverty in the longer term, as well as helping people into work and
mitigating the impact of poverty. The significant public resources committed to
the RDP must make a real and meaningful contribution to tackling rural
poverty.
“Our flagship schemes, such as Flying Start, provide substantial support
for people living in rural areas, especially children and families. Many new
settings are being developed in these communities since we announced plans to
double the number of children benefitting from Flying Start - for example, in
Carmarthenshire, the local authority is delivering the programme in rural areas
such as Trimsaran.”
Links
Wales
Rural Development Programme 2014-2020: Final ProposalsBuilding
Resilient Communities: Taking Forward the Tackling Poverty Action
Plan