- Unprecedented opportunity for Rural Development post Covid-19
- Major focus on attracting Remote Workers to rural communities
- Revitalising town centres, rural jobs, adventure tourism, green economy and island development central to new policy
- Broadband roll-out to bring new opportunities in areas like eHealth, remote learning, online trading and new technologies
- Five-year strategy will be underpinned by updated National Development Plan
The Government has today published Our Rural Future, the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in decades.
The policy reflects the unprecedented change in living and working patterns during Covid-19 and the significant opportunities this presents for rural communities – from remote working and revitalising our town centres to job creation, developing a green economy and enhancing our outdoor amenities.
The five year strategy was launched in Croke Park by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and Minister for Transport and the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan.
Our Rural Future sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years.
It is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.
The policy will help rural Ireland to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, enable long-term development of rural areas, and create more resilient rural economies and communities for the future.