The Government has made clear its support for the long-term economic and social development of rural Ireland in Project Ireland 2040 which was launched last week.
The National Planning Framework, which is one of the twin strands of Project Ireland 2040, specifically commits to maintaining Ireland’s rural fabric and to reversing rural population decline. It also highlights the continued potential of the traditional pillars of the rural economy to support job creation in areas such as tourism and agriculture, as well as the opportunities that will arise through new technologies and investment.
Under the National Development Plan, the Government has committed to establishing a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which will provide an additional €1 billion over the next ten years to support rural renewal. Other funding streams in the National Development Plan, across sectors such as transport, tourism, energy and communications, will also support rural areas.
The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development will also continue to support the economic and social development of rural areas through short-to-medium term actions across Government. The Action Plan contains over 270 measures to build sustainable communities, support enterprise and employment, maximise our rural tourism and recreation potential, foster culture and creativity, and improve rural infrastructure and connectivity.
A second six-monthly Progress Report on the implementation of the Action Plan will be published in the coming weeks.