- Tourism at heart of Our Rural Future 2026-2031 launched on 27 October 2026.
- The policy sets out 34 high-level commitments and 234 practical measures to end 2028.
- It is structured around five strategic pillars.
- Consultation involved more than 2,000 participants and more than 270 written responses.
- The OECD Rural Policy Review of Ireland 2026 informed the policy.
The Government has launched Our Rural Future 2026-2031 with 34 high-level commitments and an action plan of 234 practical measures to end 2028. The policy covers rural enterprise, employment, services, isolation and community resilience. The launch took place on 27 October 2026.
The policy is structured around five pillars: thriving rural places, high-quality public services, a strong and diverse rural economy, resilient rural communities and sustaining the rural environment. A strategic rural investment initiative aims to unlock major capital projects at regional level.
The policy follows consultation with more than 2,000 participants, eight public and stakeholder events and more than 270 written responses. The OECD Rural Policy Review of Ireland 2026 informed the policy. Regional events will provide information on funding opportunities and supports.
The policy explicitly supports the recovery and growth of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector as a core pillar for revitalising rural towns, villages, and local economies.
- The policy supports the recovery and resilience of the tourism and hospitality industries to offset economic shifts and create sustainable local employment.
- Capital investment under related frameworks (such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and LEADER) integrates short-stay accommodation, artisan food, and café facilities into multi-functional community projects.
- The strategy aligns rural tourism with the green economy, low-carbon transitions, and the promotion of Ireland’s regional tourism assets (such as Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and the Wild Atlantic Way).
- Enhancements in national broadband, digital adoption, and rural transport are positioned as vital backbones to make rural hospitality and remote-work/visitor infrastructure more viable year-round
The Taoiseach shared “Rural Ireland is central to our national identity and to the future of our country.”
