Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
445. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the current status of the public consultation on Our Rural Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8770/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy from 2026. The process of developing this successor policy is well advanced.
An extensive process of consultation was 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 commenced in March 2025 with an online public survey, followed by a series of eight stakeholder and public events across the country, one of which was held as Gaeilge, and an online session for those unable to attend in-person. Additionally, the Rural Youth Assembly was consulted in September 2025, ensuring that the voices of young people were fully considered in the policy development process.
Bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, representative groups, and public bodies have also taken place.
Informed by the extensive engagement undertaken, a consultation paper, setting out the proposed key themes and priorities for the new policy was published for a period of public consultation in November 2025, with submissions invited until 12 December 2025. This process yielded 273 written responses.
The process of consultation has now concluded, with the views of more than 2,000 people being heard. Drafting of the new policy will reflect the feedback gathered from participants and stakeholders.
Bilateral engagement with departments continues with respect to ambitious commitments for delivery under the new plan, continuing our whole-of-Government approach into this next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy.
The policy is also being informed by an independent OECD Review of Ireland’s rural policy framework which is scheduled to be published this month.
