Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am anxious to get the views of younger people in rural areas. Part of the consultation will be specifically focused on them and getting them to engage with the review. Housing is a major issue. Táimid ag plé cúrsaí tithíochta i gcomhthéacs cúrsaí Gaeltachta freisin ach ní fadhb Ghaeltachta amháin í. Is fadhb í i ngach ceantar agus i ngach baile, rural agus urban. We will be looking at that.

The outgoing strategy has exceeded many expectations. We now have the biggest budget in the history of the State within the Department of €472 million, which is being spent in communities right across the country. I want to see what Our Rural Future looks like in 2026 - in housing but also an infrastructure and in facilities. We are much more online now than we were in 2021. What do we need to do to promote that or do we need to consider what impact it is having? There are many areas such as climate and the impact of climate change on rural communities will have to be part of this policy document as well. I look forward to engaging in debate on it. What is most important is that we get out and about debate these matters.

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