Rural Development - Research and Analysis

The Department of Rural and Community Development is committed to the social and economic development of rural Ireland through meaningful and informed policy. Focused assessments of policies are carried out on a periodic basis. The publications here seek to review publicly funded projects, programmes and schemes to improve value for money in support of this aim.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the necessary repair, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland. This focused policy assessment reviewed the programme between 2017-2022 with the purpose of improving the understanding and informing the future operation of the scheme.

• Focused Policy Assessment – Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, Department of Rural and Community Development, November 2024

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a commitment of €1 billion by government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.

This review considered the operation of the RRDF from establishment to October 2022. It details findings with regard to the operation of the fund over that period, and sets out recommendations for the future operation of the fund.

• Focused Policy Assessment – Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Department of Rural and Community Development, December 2022

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is one of a series of national and local support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. This paper examines the scheme with a view to identifying potential operational improvements.

• Focused Policy Assessment - Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Department of Rural and Community Development, November 2021

The LEADER programme aims to support the local development of Ireland’s rural areas. This independent report concerns the Mid-term 1 Evaluation of the Rural Development Programme, Ireland (2014-2020).

• Indecon Mid-Term Evaluation of the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2014-2020 , Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, August 2019.

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) funds the construction or improvement of non-public roads under specific contexts. This focused policy assessment reviewed the programme between 2017-2019 with the purpose of improving the understanding and informing the future operation of the scheme.

• Focused Policy Assessment: Local Improvement Scheme, Department of Rural and Community Development, November 2020.