Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Our Rural Future 2021-2025 is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades. It was published in March 2021 and contains more than 150 measures across the whole of Government for both short-term recovery and long-term development.

Delivery of the Our Rural Future rural development policy is monitored through a series of work programmes and progress reports. The second progress report was published in August 2022 and covered delivery in the first half of this year. It contained updates on 148 of the 312 actions in the 2022 work programme and included contributions from 22 Departments or agencies. Some 35 of these actions were of an ongoing nature. Of the remaining 113 actions, which were due for delivery in the first half of 2022, a total of 82, or 72%, were completed. Work is under way on the third progress report, which will cover the second half of 2022.

I acknowledge the very enthusiastic engagement and inputs from across Government in respect of the implementation of Our Rural Future. My officials will shortly begin bilateral consultations with relevant Departments in preparation for the work programme for 2023. The development of these annual work programmes allows for priorities to be updated in light of emerging opportunities and challenges and the introduction of brand new measures to the overall Our Rural Future policy.

I am confident that the publication of these documents will demonstrate continued commitment to realising the ambitions of Our Rural Future in delivering this Government's vision for rural Ireland. I will finish at that.

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