A new rural development policy is currently in the final stages of drafting and is hoped to be brought to government for approval shortly, according to Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.
Speaking in the Dáil last week, the minister said that her department has been working on this policy as a successor to the Action Plan for Rural Development. She said the new policy will be “forward looking and ambitious, reflecting a whole-of-government commitment to rural Ireland”.
“It will have a five-year horizon, and will seek to strengthen the resilience of our rural communities and economies, including in response to the impact of Covid-19,” she said.