Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

We can all quote facts. There is a challenge, and I know the challenge in my county. Nevertheless, the CSO figures show a 7% increase in population in highly remote areas between 2011 and 2022. The OECD figures show that many rural and remote areas in Ireland showed some of the highest population growths between 2001 and 2021 within the OECD. I accept that within those figures, there are anomalies and we need to focus on the reasons.

We cannot ignore the investment that is happening through the rural regeneration and development fund, the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme and the town and village renewal scheme. In particular, the town and village renewal scheme has an element for local authorities to involve GAA clubs, which are in many cases the drivers as well as the identity point for many rural communities. I will work with the uachtarán of the GAA and the national demographics committee as we frame a new rural future. I also encourage local clubs to work and participate in the consultation process, in particular those facing challenges.

I look forward to inviting people to the national youth assembly on rural development because it is young people who are at the heart of many of these clubs. That meeting will take place at the end of September 2025 and will be part of the Our Rural Future consultation. I look forward to many GAA clubs sending delegates to that.

See this speech in context