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

There has been multimillion euro investment in rural Ireland. Through the RRDF, there has been millions of euro invested in town centre regeneration projects and the conversion of old, derelict buildings into remote working hubs. There has been investment through the town and village streetscape enhancement initiative, which is now looking at repurposing whole buildings.

I spoke to local authority chief executives yesterday. They said very clearly that there has been unprecedented investment in rural Ireland and it is working and paying off. There are many different avenues for communities and local authorities to draw down money from central government. It is about the bottom-up approach and people identifying opportunities, weaknesses in their community, looking for funding to address those weaknesses and building on the strengths.

The population in rural areas is increasing. More and more young people are coming back to live and work in their home areas.

We have been able to afford them that opportunity through remote working. More than €100 million has been spent on remote working facilities.

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