Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
28. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to give a detailed progress report in relation the previous call by this Deputy for a taskforce to be set up in south Kerry, to be used for the entire country in relation to depopulation, the amalgamation of clubs (details supplied) immigration and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53138/26]
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.
Measures delivered through Our Rural Future which can be seen to support our aim of increasing the population in rural areas include improvements in rural transport, broadband provision, support for rural enterprise, and ongoing support for the agri-food sector.
My own department has seen significant funding increases in recent years across a range of capital investment schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. This investment is delivering real impacts in rural communities all across the country.
According to the OECD, rural remote regions in Ireland recorded the highest population growth of all OECD countries between 2001 and 2021 and CSO figures show a 6.4% increase in highly rural remote areas between 2016 and 2022. Within this context, I recognise that some rural areas, including in south Kerry, continue to face demographic challenges, and supporting the sustainability of all rural areas remains a key focus for Government.
Development of the new Our Rural Future policy is nearing completion.
My department undertook an extensive programme of consultations to help shape the new policy, and many of the issues relating to attracting and retaining young people and their families in rural areas featured strongly. This consultation process included a dedicated meeting with the GAA at Croke Park, which myself and Minister Buttimer attended, alongside GAA President Jarlath Burns, Director General Tom Ryan and members of the GAA National Demographics Committee, in relation to issues such as those raised by the Deputy.
I was happy to see that the GAA also engaged proactively in the call for written submissions, and all such submissions received are feeding into the development of the new policy.
Rural population trends, in line with many of the issues addressed by Our Rural Future, are an issue that require input from across a range of Government Departments, and thus we will continue our whole-of-Government approach as we implement this next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy.
This new policy will build on the progress already achieved and will set out a renewed vision for the years ahead. It will provide the framework for the Government's ongoing commitment to rural Ireland, supported by clear and practical actions and backed by substantial investment targeted at securing a more sustainable and resilient future for our rural communities.
