Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Our Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. It commits to developing an effective rural proofing model to ensure the effects of significant new proposals on rural communities are fully considered, and better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing them.

To advance this measure, my officials commissioned a research report on rural proofing which was published in January 2023. It outlines options that could be applied in the Irish context and assesses the merits and potential barriers to their implementation.

The report makes clear that all the international evidence in relation to rural proofing is that no ‘one size fits all’ approach can be quickly and successfully implemented.This international experience is an important factor in shaping our approach to rural proofing, and I was happy to have recently met with Lord Richard Benyon, Minister of State for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs to discuss the experience of implementing a rural proofing approach in the United Kingdom.

Informed by the conclusions of the report, my Department is developing a nationally applicable rural proofing approach by first applying rural proofing concepts to a number of pilot test initiatives.

As part of this approach, my officials have engaged with a number of key Government Departments. Officials are now working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to rural proofing and the development of the new Sustainable Tourism Policy. Similarly, work is also underway on the development of the new National Hubs Strategy, and the incorporation of the rural perspective is a key part of this work.Officials have also engaged with colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to their ongoing work on the National Planning Framework.

My officials will continue to work collaboratively with relevant Departments to progress work in this area in 2023 to ensure that our approach to rural proofing incorporates an appropriate ‘rural lens’, is sustainable over the longer term and adds value.