Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
1320. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30484/26]
View answerSince 22 January 2025, my Department has delivered significant policy and programme achievements across rural development, community development, and the Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Support for and investment in rural Ireland is a priority across government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a successor to the Our Rural Future policy. I am pleased with the overall level of delivery across the 5-year lifetime of the policy, where in many cases, delivery has gone beyond what was set out originally and exceeded what was envisaged when the policy commenced in 2021. After an extensive consultation processes, and a review of the previous policy by the OECD, work on a successor policy is nearing completion. The successor will be a whole of Government policy, led by my Department. I look forward to bringing this to Government in due course.
Work is also ongoing on a successor strategy for the community and voluntary sector, again with extensive consultation a key part of that work. My Department is also currently developing a new National Volunteering Strategy, which will also fulfil a commitment in the Programme for Government. The second Strategy will build on the progress already made – strengthening Ireland’s established volunteering infrastructure, continuing to progress areas of best practice, and ensuring that support for and recognition of the value of volunteering is sustainable into the future.
I would also note that, with regard to the Gaeltacht area, Government recently approved the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028, and the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill is progressing well.
In addition, implementation is ongoing across other policies, including:
• Town Centre First Policy (2022)
• Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors (2023 – 2027)
• Ár nOileáin Bheo (2023 – 2033)
• Trading for Impact (2024 – 2027)
• The Library is the Place (2023 – 2027)
• The National Philanthropy Policy (2024 – 2028)
• The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language (2010 – 2030) and associated 5-Year Action Plan
• The Digital Plan for the Irish Language (2023 – 2027)
• The Strategy for Irish Language Based Arts (2024-2027)
• The National Plan for Irish Language Public Services (2024 – 2030)
The implementation of this framework of policies has seen the delivery of significant funding to rural, urban and Gaeltacht communities in 2025 and to date in 2026. This is delivered through a range of schemes. Some important examples of this funding over the period include;
• €159 million was secured in Budget 2026 for the Gaeltacht, Irish Language and Islands Programme, an increase of over €36 million;
• An investment of €35.7 million was announced under the NDP for the development of Inis Oírr pier;
• Increased funding for both Gaeltacht Support Schemes and Irish Language Support Schemes;
• €26 million was approved for over 100 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme;
• €25 million to support 284 outdoor recreation projects – the largest approval to date under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme;
• €21 million has been announced to support improvements to 369 community centres under the Community Centre Investment Fund;
• €20.5 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for 30 projects nationwide;
• €17.5 million was announced for Local Authorities to upgrade rural roads and laneways under the Local Improvement Scheme, and;
• Increase of €4 million for the Community Services Programme, with its annual allocation increasing from €55.4 million to €59.4 million. A new Open Call for Applications to join the Programme was announced on 30th March.
The above information demonstrates that my Department is making strong progress on our commitments within the Programme for Government, across both policy and programmes objectives.
