Press release
Public invited to have their say on issues impacting on rural Ireland – Minister Ring
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Online survey provides an opportunity to contribute to the next phase of rural development policy for Ireland
Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development , today launched an online survey seeking the views of the public on key challenges and opportunities for rural Ireland over the coming five years.
The survey is part of a consultation process being undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development to inform the development of a new, whole-of-Government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2020-2025.
“This survey is an opportunity for people to have their say on issues which impact rural communities. It allows respondents to prioritise what they see as the main challenges and opportunities in relation to rural Ireland, covering areas such as employment opportunities, Brexit, broadband connectivity, transport infrastructure and access to public services and facilities.
“People living, working, and raising families in rural areas throughout the country have important insights into both the challenges which impact on rural living, and the opportunities available to rural areas. These insights will contribute to informing Government policy for rural Ireland over the next five years.”
The new policy will be forward-looking, building on the progress which has been made in the last three years through the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, and will reflect the changing nature of work, and changing society we live in.
The new policy will take account of demographic trends within rural communities, the increased focus on climate change, Brexit and the changing nature of jobs and how we work. It will focus on strengthening rural communities and rural economies, and will identify policy measures which need to be put in place in order to achieve this objective.
“While change brings challenges, it also brings opportunity, and we need to take full advantage of the opportunities available to strengthen our rural economies and communities for the future.
“Engagement from the public, particularly those living and working in rural Ireland, is vital to assist us in developing this new policy and to identify policy measures which need to be put in place now to support rural areas for the future. I strongly encourage everyone to participate in this survey, to help us to ensure that our rural areas realise their full potential.”
The public consultation survey is available online here until Friday 11 October 2019.
Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan was the first ever whole-of-Government approach to rural development, containing over 270 actions for delivery across Government, State agencies and other bodies, to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland. The Action Plan has been a key vehicle for implementation of the Government’s support for rural development over the last three years, and the implementation rate of measures contained in the Plan continues to be very high.
The Department of Rural and Community Development is now developing a new rural policy for Ireland, to follow on from the Action Plan for Rural Development which reaches the end of its three-year lifecycle at the end of 2019. The new policy will reflect a whole-of-Government commitment to rural Ireland and will take account of other key policy initiatives such as Project Ireland 2040, Future Jobs Ireland and the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
The new rural policy will be forward-looking, with a 5-year timeframe, and will focus on strengthening our rural communities and economies. It will take account of emerging economic, societal and international developments. These include changing demographics within rural communities, the increasing focus on climate change adaptation, diversification in the agri-food sector, the next version of the CAP and LEADER programmes, new ways of working and the changing nature of jobs, and Brexit.
In order to develop the new policy, the Department of Rural and Community Development has held a series of consultation workshops over the last number of months to obtain stakeholder views facing rural Ireland. Following on from these events, the Department is now inviting wider feedback, through an online survey, on the challenges and opportunities facing people living and working in rural Ireland. The survey will be open until 11 October 2019.