Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2025
383. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will give detailed consideration to a report published by a national organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70761/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the report published by the GAA National Demographics Committee on 4 December.
Indeed, I was very pleased to meet, along with Minister Buttimer from my Department, with the GAA in September as part of the consultation process on the next iteration of Ireland’s rural development policy, Our Rural Future. During that meeting, we had the opportunity to hear first-hand about some of the issues raised in the report and the important work they are doing within their communities and at national level to address the challenges facing clubs in rural Ireland. Similarly, this week I met with the Football Association of Ireland, while my officials have engaged with Sport Ireland in relation to the development of the new policy.
Our Rural Future seeks to ensure that rural areas are attractive for people to live, work and raise their families. One of the high-level outcomes set out in the current policy is for an increase in the number of people living in rural areas.
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 7% increase in highly rural remote areas between 2011 and 2022.
I am however aware that there are variations across rural areas within these overarching figures, and the sustainability of all rural areas remains a key focus for Government.
The challenges around attracting and retaining young people and their families in rural areas have featured in our consultations on the new policy and will continue to shape its development.
The new policy will build on the momentum of Our Rural Future and the actions delivered to support our aim of increasing the population in rural areas through initiatives focused on remote working, broadband and digital connectivity, rural transport, support for rural enterprises, support for the agri-food sector, and more.
Rural development remains integrally linked to the work of all relevant Departments and we will continue our whole-of-Government approach as we develop this next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy.
It will be supported by clear and practical actions, developed across Government, and backed by substantial investment in rural Ireland.
The final phase of public consultation is open for written submissions until 12 December and I strongly encourage all interested parties to make a submission and to help shape the future of rural policy.
Government is committed to building on the success of Our Rural Future and securing a more sustainable and resilient future for our rural communities.
