Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future 2021 to 2025 is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland. The policy was published in March 2021 and, as a live document, now contains more than 170 commitments for delivery. These measures support the economic, environmental, cultural and social development and wellbeing of rural communities.

The policy contains a range of commitments across Government, and focuses on the long term developmental needs of rural areas. Each commitment included in the policy is led by a nominated Government Department, State agency or other body. Funding of these commitments is met from the Votes/budgets of each relevant Government Department.

Implementation of the policy is co-ordinated on behalf of Government by my Department. An overarching Implementation Advisory Group ensures the coherent integration of the policy’s measures and comprises representatives from Government Departments, regional and local government as well as key community and development sector representatives.

Policy updates are provided through six-monthly Progress Reports and annual Work Programmes. The development of each Annual Work Programme allows for new measures and actions. These are added in light of any revised priorities, emerging opportunities and challenges. There has been strong progress in the delivery of actions reported across the Work Programmes and Progress Reports published to date, and I am committed to ensuring that progress is maintained in that regard.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of the key focuses of Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy 2021 - 2025, is optimising digital connectivity to support vibrant, sustainable rural communities. I want to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities and ensure that those living in rural communities are provided with the same opportunities as those in larger urban areas. Throughout my tenure as Minister for Rural and Community Development, I have been clear that balanced regional development, sustainable and thriving communities, and indeed the wider national economy will all benefit from workers and employers embracing the remote working revolution.

Our Rural Future recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that increased digital connectivity creates and commits to establishing a comprehensive national network of 400 remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy. Over recent years, I have made significant funding available to rural communities around the country to support the use of digital connectivity. This funding has been provided through the schemes such as LEADER, Connected Hubs Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. These programmes have been designed to ensure that infrastructure and services are made available to meet the changing needs of our rural communities. These schemes also support job creation and enable people to stay in or return to their communities, which may not have been possible previously. I am determined to see these achievements built on.

Our Rural Future also commits to the rollout of approximately 300 community-based Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) for many of our most remote rural communities. The BCPs are publicly-accessible sites providing free WiFi internet connectivity to remote rural locations, including many of our offshore islands. My Department funds a number of projects which will take advantage of the opportunities that connectivity in BCPs offers, and provide solutions to challenges or address gaps in service that have been identified by the Department, local authority or other stakeholders. Projects in thematic areas such as Remote Working, Digital Skills and Education, eHealth and Arts and Culture have been developed in partnership with key stakeholders and rolled out to suitable BCPs across the network.

Following progress on the establishment of the Connected Hubs and BCP networks, my Department, together with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, is leading on the formulation of a first National Hub Strategy, in consultation with key stakeholders. This strategy will inform the future direction of the National Hub Network and ensure the strategic development and sustainability of Ireland’s hub infrastructure, including the BCP network.

Finally, my Department has already begun preparations for the development of a successor policy to Our Rural Future. As part of this, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has been engaged to undertake a review of the rural development policy framework in Ireland and work has commenced in this regard. The development of the successor policy will no doubt also include a focus on the importance of rural connectivity.