Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

849. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on her commitments for delivery under the policy for sustainable rural development, published in March 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29772/24]

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

Our Rural Future was published in March 2021, with a five-year timeframe until 2025. It is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland, containing more than 170 commitments for delivery by government departments and their agencies.

The measures outlined in the policy support short-term recovery, longer-term economic and social development, and environmental and cultural wellbeing. Updates on actions are provided through six-monthly Progress Reports. Annual Work Programmes are also published and allow for new measures and actions, in light of revised priorities due to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Of the original 154 measures, 46 are being implemented and are of an ongoing nature. From the remaining 107 measures, a total of 87 have now been completed, although in many cases, activity beyond the original commitment is continuing and will be reported on over the remaining period of the policy. The Fifth Progress Report, with updates for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 2023, and the 2024 Work Programme are available to view, alongside previous Progress Reports and Work Programmes, on my Department's website: .

Work is now underway to produce the Sixth Progress Report, providing updates on both ongoing actions and those due to be completed in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 2024.

I am grateful to my colleagues in Government for their sustained level of engagement to support the ambition of Our Rural Future. The significant level of progress to date across all contributing departments highlights this Government’s continued commitment to rural Ireland.

In December last year, I contracted the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to conduct an independent review of rural policy in Ireland, to support and inform the development of a successor to Our Rural Future. The review process is now in train with officials in my Department liaising with the OECD for the duration of the review.