Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas le Ceannaire an tSeanaid, an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, as an gcuireadh chun a bheith anseo inniu chun cúrsaí réigiúnacha a phlé. I thank the Leader of the Seanad for the invitation to speak with the Members today on the importance of balanced regional development. Responsibility lies with all of us in Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann to help shape an Ireland where opportunity, investment and quality of life are shared fairly across all villages, towns and cities. This Government is committed to balanced regional development and supporting an Ireland where all regions and communities, both rural and urban, have equal opportunities to thrive. We have enshrined in the programme for Government a commitment to driving balanced regional development and supporting rural communities. This commitment is further embedded through the recently revised national planning framework.

Ireland’s population is to increase by approximately 1 million people in the period to 2040 and the Government believes that the needs and wants of the population are better served through fairer and more dispersed growth across the country. The revised national planning framework, NPF, allows us to sustainably plan for this growth and to achieve a more even distribution of population, housing, jobs and infrastructure across all regions.

This ongoing shift to more regionally balanced growth is the focus of whole-of-government policies across a range of areas. It is critical to achieving long-term regional resilience and sustainability. Importantly, Ireland’s rural development policy, Our Rural Future, has provided significant investment and supports, strengthened local economies and improved the lives of many people in rural communities across Ireland. The evidence of this is becoming clear and tangible across towns and villages. Our Rural Future clearly identifies the importance of balanced regional development as a requirement for our overall national development. The programme for Government includes a commitment to build on the momentum achieved under the policy by publishing and implementing the next iteration of Our Rural Future from 2026. Work on Our Rural Future 2.0 is firmly under way, with public consultations taking place today in Tullamore, yesterday in Cork and next week in Connemara. This follows an online survey earlier this year. Later in the year, I will be inviting the public, organisations, community groups and stakeholders to make written submissions. I encourage every Member of the House to communicate this to their constituents and to interest groups in their constituencies. I recall the work the Cathaoirleach did on local government in the previous Seanad. It would be beneficial and useful to the Our Rural Future consultation process if the Seanad Public Consultation Committee were to engage with it.

The Our Rural Future policy is housed in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and is backed up with real investment and proof of delivery. Schemes such as the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, the town and village renewal scheme, the outdoor recreation investment scheme and LEADER are delivering for rural Ireland. The RRDF is a major programme that seeks to support large-scale ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. It has allocated €588 million to 243 projects across Ireland to date. The town and village renewal scheme was introduced in 2016. It is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme, over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, ORIS, provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, blueways and mountain access routes in rural areas. Last year alone, funding of over €20.3 million was announced for 221 projects. These projects matter, because if we want to attract the best people to the best jobs in every region of Ireland, we need the best facilities. We know that a key driver for people choosing where to live, work and rear their families is increasingly outdoor facilities and access to the amazing scenery we have in rural Ireland.

Over the period 2021 to 2024, my Department has allocated a total of over €1.5 billion for rural and community development projects and initiatives and I can assure the Cathaoirleach that we are not done yet. We will continue to support projects and invest in communities to secure effective regional development.

My Department also oversees the implementation of Our Living Islands, the Government policy and action plan aimed at supporting the sustainability and vibrancy of island communities off our coast. Since being appointed as Minister in January, I have made the islands a priority. I have already visited some and I am fully committed to visiting all of them during my term as Minister. It is a great honour for me to be Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht. Ní mise an chéad duine as Maigh Eo lena bheith mar Aire. I am following in the footsteps of the late Denis Gallagher and the recently deceased Paddy O'Toole, a former Member of this House. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

One of the former Minister, Denis Gallagher's many legacies is the formation of Údarás na Gaeltachta. One of the core functions of the údarás is supporting balanced regional development. It has a mandate to support the economic, social and linguistic development of the Gaeltacht and it has done so with terrific success. In 2024, chruthaigh an t-údarás beagnach 900 post nua sa Ghaeltacht. Tá beagnach 10,000 duine anois fostaithe i gcomhlachtaí a gcuidíonn an t-údarás leo. Tá an network Gteic, a bhfuil 30 hubs aige i ngach cuid den Ghaeltacht, ag déanamh obair an-mhaith agus an-láidir sa Ghaeltacht. The Gteic network, with approximately 30 digital hubs in Gaeltacht areas, provides modern infrastructure for remote workers and small businesses. These are examples of tangible benefits that the team in the údarás are delivering every day.Through strategic investment, innovation and local partnerships in all our Gaeltacht regions, Údarás na Gaeltachta is ensuring employment and development opportunities are available in rural and more peripheral areas. I had a really strong meeting with the executive of údarás on Friday last. Tá sé iontach a chloisteáil go bhfuil obair ar siúl ar chúrsaí AI agus cúrsaí eile digiteacha. Beidh an obair sin an-tábhachtach ag coimeád an t-údarás agus muintir na Gaeltachta páirteach i ngach rud atá ag tarlú i gcúrsaí digiteacha. This work will keep Údarás na Gaeltachta at the cutting edge of job creation, attracting businesses and ensuring Gaeltacht communities have opportunities in this area. I am currently progressing the Údarás na Gaeltachta Bill through the Houses. I look forward to coming back to the Seanad to debate it.

Delivering on our ambition requires robust governance and strategic co-ordination at regional and local level. Our three regional assemblies, together with the 31 local authorities, are crucial in driving balanced regional development by setting and implementing regional and local development policy in line with national objectives. The revised NPF will provide the basis for the review and updating of regional strategies and local authority development plans to reflect key drivers of change to ensure we have a strong, strategic and plan-led approach based on the relevant up-to-date legislative and policy framework.

In terms of the Government's approach and progress towards driving effective regional development, we fully recognise that housing and infrastructure form the foundations upon which economic activity, population growth and access to essential services depend. With a revised NPF, and a new planning and development Act being implemented this year, we will deliver on our commitment to ensure the accelerated delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure projects across the country. Our aim is to ensure housing supply meets new demand, addresses existing need and creates a sustainable future for housing in Ireland. This is maintained by a commitment of €6 billion in investment in housing under budget 2025. The Minister, Deputy Browne, is doing exceptionally good work in tackling the bottlenecks that exist in our housing market.

The revised NPF includes commitments regarding renewable electricity development, both onshore and offshore. It will also support jobs and enterprise in every part of the country. IDA Ireland's Adapt Intelligently strategy for the period to 2029 targets 550 investments in regional locations outside Dublin. Enterprise Ireland also remains fully committed to driving balanced regional development, with 64% of new jobs created by client companies last year located outside Dublin. Projects such as the development of the Ireland West Airport Knock strategic development zone, SDZ, are of strategic importance to the northern and western region. This is recognised by the inclusion of that project in Project Ireland 2040, the west regional enterprise plan and regional spatial plans.

As we all know, tourism plays a key role in balanced regional development. Fáilte Ireland's regional tourism development strategy sets out a strategic approach to unlocking the potential of each region. As an example of our ambition in this area, the Government announced an investment in February of up to €23 million towards the development of a number of sustainable tourism amenities across the Border region. Similarly, the agrifood sector drives economic growth in every rural parish in Ireland, reaching out from every corner of our country to global markets. We will continue to strongly support farmers and our rural communities in the food and agriculture sectors.

I am very clear that communities in every region need access to good-quality public services. Connectivity, both transport and digital, is essential. The Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network, with investment in 2025 alone of €713 million. The public transport network continues to expand across all regions. The Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan has seen more than 150 new or enhanced routes since its introduction in 2021, with over 1.1 million passenger journeys across the network in 2024 alone.

The reopening of the western rail corridor from Claremorris to Athenry, and northwards from Claremorris to Sligo, is critical infrastructure for the Atlantic economic corridor. The redevelopment of that rail corridor is vital to ensure the future of the region both from an economic and environmental perspective, with benefits for connectivity, tourism, freight and sustainable transport. Our regional airports, including Ireland West Airport Knock, offer a massive opportunity for growth. All the regional airports working together can deliver outcomes and access right across the country.

Significant advances in digital connectivity throughout Ireland are enabling remote working, online education and access to digital services across all regions. My Department has provided a national network of almost 400 connected hubs across the country. The programme for Government commits to expanding the remit of the hubs to unlock new potential by enabling ehealth, remote learning and an enhanced digital engagement. Connectivity, both traditional and new, empowers communities to attract investment, retain talent and encourage people to move to those communities. These are key elements of balanced regional development.

Senators can be assured that balanced regional development remains a central priority for the Government. I thank my colleagues in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for their huge work in this area since the establishment of the Department in 2007. The Department shows the way in terms of remote working, with bases in Ballina, Na Forbacha and here in Dublin. I thank all who work in the Department for their huge commitment to its mission. Through continued co-ordination, targeted action and engagement with communities, we will ensure every part of our country shares in Ireland's growth and opportunity.

I look forward to this evening's debate and hearing the important contributions of Members. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Seanadóirí as an díospóireacht seo.