This the seventh Annual Report for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, reports on progress made in the implementation of our high-level goals and targets set out in the Statement of Strategy 2008-2010. These high level goals were shaped by policy priorities set out in the Agreed Programme for Government, the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and Towards 2016.

During 2008, significant progress was achieved in working towards the simplification and enhancement of the delivery of our community and rural development programmes and services. A review commenced of the design of the Department’s range of programmes to support communities to ensure that optimal benefit is realised from this expenditure. By the end of the year, integrated local development structures were in place in all of the 55 local development operational areas agreed by Government in 2007.

The formulation of a new National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 was advanced considerably in 2008, with the completion of a major public consultation process.