OECD publishes Rural Policy Review of Ireland 2026
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 18 February 2026
- Last updated on: 19 February 2026
- OECD review of rural policy to inform development of the new Our Rural Future Policy
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has now published its first Rural Policy Review of Ireland.
The review highlights the unique whole-of-government approach taken under Ireland’s Our Rural Future policy, which has provided increased visibility on the impacts of rural areas of policies and programmes across all government departments, as well as the significant status given to rural policy through the establishment of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in 2017.
The OECD analysis also showed that, while Ireland’s rural areas have significant potential in areas such as the green economy, tourism and food sectors, there remains a range of challenges facing rural areas.
In providing a series of recommendations, the OECD review points to the benefits of improved use of rural intelligence, broadening of support for rural enterprises and enabling delivery of essential services in rural areas.
Minister Calleary stated:
“I am extremely grateful to the OECD for sharing its vast expertise and experience examining rural development policies and practices across its members.
“This review has provided a highly valuable independent evaluation of Irish rural policy, which will now help to inform the development of our new Rural Development Policy – Our Rural Future.
“I am pleased to note that the report recognises the benefits of our whole of government approach to addressing our ambitions for rural Ireland. Of course, challenges remain in ensuring we fully achieve this ambition and the detailed analysis provided by the OECD will help us to do this.”
Notes
Publication of the review comes after an extensive two-year exercise involving a number of mission visits to Ireland. The review will now be fully considered in the context of the ongoing work on the development of the new Our Rural Future Policy for the period 2026-2031.