Public Consultation: Our Rural Future

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has launched a public consultation to further inform the development of the next iteration of Ireland’s Rural Development Policy, Our Rural Future.

An extensive process of consultation has already been completed which gathered the views of stakeholders and communities across the country on what matters most for rural Ireland and its people.

Consultation commenced in March with an online survey, followed by a series of eight stakeholder and public events across the country and online. Bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, representative groups, Government Departments and public bodies have also taken place.

Informed by the extensive engagement already undertaken, and building on the progress already achieved, we are inviting you to share your views on the draft vision and the proposed themes and priorities for the new policy.

These are represented in a consultation document which may be found here.

We’d like you to review this document and submit feedback on the consultation questions presented.

Please email your submission to: rural.consultation@drcdg.gov.ie with “Our Rural Future Consultation” in the title.

You may also send your submission by post to:

Our Rural Future Consultation

Rural Strategy Unit

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht,
Government Offices,
Brook Street,
Ballina,
Co Mayo,
F26 E8N6

This consultation is open until 12 December 2025.

The feedback gathered will ensure the next iteration of Our Rural Future is firmly rooted in the experiences, ambitions, and ideas of rural communities themselves.

Respondents are advised that it is intended to publish all submissions online after the consultation.

The Department is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and Data Protection legislation. Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission, and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.