Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
333. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the implementation of the 'Our Rural Future' rural development policy; to outline any amendments or considerations arising from last year's public consultation on the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38344/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the expected timeline for the publication of the new "Our Rural Future" Strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38365/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 335 together.
Since its launch in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investment and supports to rural areas, strengthening local economies and improving the quality of life for people across rural Ireland. The policy included 179 measures for delivery through a series of actions delivered across Government.
Significant achievements across the lifetime of the policy included improvements in digital connectivity through delivery of the National Broadband Plan, the development of a national network of over 400 remote working hubs, improvements in essential services such as 180 new or enhanced public transport services through the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan; as well as improved access to employment, education and healthcare services.
Policy implementation has been underpinned by unprecedented levels of Government investment in our rural towns, villages and communities, through the Rural Development Investment Programme and other programmes and schemes delivered by my Department.
Details of all actions implemented under Our Rural Future are published in a series of Progress Reports that are published on my Department's website. The concluding Progress Report will be published shortly.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy, and development of the successor policy is well advanced. The new policy is informed by the extensive public and stakeholder consultation process which took place throughout 2025, capturing the views and inputs of more than 2,000 participants.
Key themes that emerged included supporting local economies and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of rural towns, villages and communities, to promote balanced regional development and make rural areas thriving and attractive places to live, learn, work and raise a family.
These priorities have fed into the development of Our Rural Future’s successor, which will be based on five interconnected policy pillars focusing on rural places, rural services, rural communities, the rural economy, and the rural environment.
The new policy run until 2031 and I intend to publish it in advance of the summer. It will build on the progress and investment delivered to date, sett out a renewed vision for the years ahead, and provide the framework for the Government's ongoing commitment to rural Ireland, supported by ambitious, clear and practical actions.
