Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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22. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Gaeltacht for an update on the outcome of the public consultation of “Our Rural Future”, including a draft timeline for when this will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22991/26]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Since it was first launched in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investment and supports, strengthened local economies, and improved the quality of life for people across rural Ireland.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future, and this process is at an advanced stage of development.

An extensive process of consultation has taken place, to gather the views of stakeholders and communities across the country on what matters most for rural Ireland and its people.

This consultation has included an online public survey, and a series of eight stakeholder and public workshops held across the country.

The Rural Youth Assembly has been directly consulted, ensuring that the voices of young people are fully considered in the policy development process.

Bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, representative groups, and public bodies have also taken place throughout the process.

Most recently, an open public consultation took place at the end of last year, based on a policy paper setting out the main themes and proposed points of emphasis for the new policy. This paper was well received by respondents, who provided valuable additional insight into the issues facing rural Ireland and how these might be addressed in the new Our Rural Future.

Informed by these engagements, my officials have been working intensively in recent weeks with departments across government on the new policy, with a particular focus on the development of meaningful and ambitious actions to underpin delivery.

I am confident that the new Our Rural Future will demonstrate this Government's continued support for rural Ireland and I look forward to publishing the new policy.