Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the anticipated Our Rural Future strategy work programme for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17891/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 longer-term development.

Delivery of the Our Rural Future rural development policy is monitored through a series of Work Programmes and Progress Reports - the First Our Rural Future Progress Report was published in February and provides updates on the actions contained in the 2021 Work Programme.

The development of annual work programmes allow for priorities to be updated in light of emerging opportunities and challenges.

A new Work Programme for 2022 is currently being finalised in conjunction with Departments and I expect to publish this shortly. However, I can say that it will demonstrate continued commitment to realising the ambitions of Our Rural Future, including the development of some new measures and actions under the policy.

Many of these actions are already underway, and updates on these will be provided in further Progress Reports to be produced every six months, as per the commitment in the policy.