Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:135. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress that she has made in delivering on the Government’s policy, Our Rural Future. [44982/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 15 September 2022
Ceisteanna (135)
Freagraí scríofa
Our Rural Future was published in March 2021 and is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades. It contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term economic and social development and environmental and cultural wellbeing.
Updates on policy implementation are provided by a series of Progress Reports and Annual Work Programmes; the latter allows for revised priorities in light of emerging opportunities and challenges.
The First Progress Report, published in February last, provided updates on a total of 216 actions contained in the 2021 Work Programme, with a delivery rate of just under 80% of actions scheduled for completion last year.
It was followed by the 2022 Work Programme, which outlined work to be undertaken this year. It contains 318 new and continuing actions to be progressed across Government, including 23 actions proposed under 10 new policy measures, adding to those originally contained in Our Rural Future. This shows that Our Rural Future is a living document, with ambition evolving over time.
The Second Progress Report was published in August and contains updates on actions for delivery in the first half of 2022, with contributions from 22 departments or agencies. This Report recorded a strong 72% completion rate.
A Third Progress Report will capture further updates at the end of 2022, and all Reports and Work Programmes are available on my Department's website - https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c6f5d-our-rural-future/.
I am delighted with these continued efforts, which seek to address the emerging challenges and opportunities facing rural communities. The high level of progress to date demonstrates this Government’s continued commitment to realising the ambitions of Our Rural Future.