Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
22. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the next iteration of Our Rural Future Development Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68342/25]
View answerSince its launch in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investment and supports, strengthened local economies, and improved quality of life across rural Ireland.
While this policy reaches its conclusion at the end of this year, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy from 2026 and the process of developing this successor policy is well underway.
An extensive process of consultation has been put in place which gathered the views of stakeholders and communities across the country on what matters most for rural Ireland and its people.
This consultation has included an online public survey, and a series of eight stakeholder and public events across the country and online. The Rural Youth Assembly has also been consulted, ensuring that the voices of young people are fully considered in the policy development process.
Bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, representative groups, and public bodies have also taken place.
Informed by this extensive engagement, a consultation document setting out the proposed key themes and priorities for the new policy was published on 17 November. Written submissions are invited until 12 December.
Drafting of the new policy will reflect the feedback gathered from all elements of the consultation process.
Engagement with a range of other Government Departments is also well underway to ensure we secure ambitious commitments for delivery under the new plan as we continue our whole-of-Government approach to this next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy.
The policy is also being informed by an OECD Review of Ireland’s rural policy framework which will be published in the new year, in advance of the new policy itself.
Government is committed to building on the success of the current policy as we seek to secure a more sustainable and resilient future for our rural communities.
