Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
603. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the initiatives his Department is undertaking to incentivise professionals to relocate to rural and commuter towns, with the goal of addressing dwindling populations, boosting local economies, and revitalizing communities. [2981/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its launch in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investment and supports, strengthened local economies, and improved quality of life across rural Ireland. 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. Within this context, however, I am 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. 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. Within my own Department, there have been significant funding increases in recent years across the range of capital investment schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme and the Local Improvement Scheme. Budget 2026 committed the largest allocation of funding to my Department since its establishment. The Rural Development programme will total €192 million this year, continuing the sustained investment of recent years and supporting the range of schemes that are key to the delivery of Our Rural Future.These schemes continue to provide vital supports to rural communities, and I have witnessed first hand the very real and tangible impacts that these projects can have in rural towns and village all across the country.The target of establishing a network of 400 Connected Hubs has been achieved, giving people access to flexible, digitally enabled workspaces across the country. These hubs are anchoring jobs and innovation locally, ensuring rural Ireland can compete in an increasingly digital economy and enabling people to pursue quality careers while living in rural communities.The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy and the process of developing this strategy is well advanced. Informed by extensive public and stakeholder consultation throughout 2025, the key themes and priorities for the new policy include promoting balanced regional development to support local economies and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of rural communities.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.
