Specific Details
Our Rural Future
Intended results
To contribute to the public consultation on 'Our Rural Future 2026 - 2031'.
To highlight that farming and farm families are the backbone of many rural communities; sustaining local economies, landscapes and maintaining traditional knowledge. Any vision for rural Ireland's future should recognise their contribution and ensure that their needs, challenges and opportunities are fully considered and supported.
That, while the needs of farmers are touched upon across all pillars, a more explicit focus could help ensure their economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
• Although the pillars address economic strength and community resilience, they do not explicitly highlight the urgent challenges around farm income stability, succession, and attracting younger farmers. The proposed elimination of the traditional 2-Pillar CAP, and specifically Pillar 2 in the context of key Rural Development supports, brings added complexity and uncertainty.
Adding a clearer commitment to supporting viable farm businesses, land mobility, training, and pathways for young entrants would directly address one of the most pressing issues in rural Ireland.
• While broadband and connectivity are included under Thriving Rural Places, farmers need specific support for digital upskilling, precision agriculture tools, and modernisation of farm systems. Making digital transformation more explicit—possibly as a cross-cutting theme—would ensure farmers can fully benefit from innovation and remain competitive
• Farming carries unique social and psychological pressures, including isolation, long working hours, financial uncertainty, and regulatory stress. While community resilience is included, an explicit reference to wellbeing— especially mental health supports tailored to farmers—would ensure this critical need is not overlooked
• Pillar Four sets out a vision for a greener rural future, but farmers would benefit from stronger assurances that climate measures will be fair, well-funded, and collaborative. This could include transition planning, financial supports, advisory services, and realistic timelines to help farmers meet environmental targets without undermining livelihoods. There needs to be a clear realisation that CAP cannot fund everything. It is already overstretched.
Environmental action, including interventions/measures pertaining to the National Restoration Plan, must be new money and funded independent of CAP. Taking money from farmers, or diverting key revenue streams within CAP, will deliver little other than weaken the economic viability of many already low-income farm families.
To highlight that current planning frameworks often lack consistency and clarity across local authorities, creating uncertainty and delays for applicants. Inflexible interpretations of “local need,” combined with lengthy approval processes and rising construction costs, have made it difficult for rural residents to secure permission to build homes on family land.
There have been multiple cases of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) objecting to planning permission on certain N routes, even cases using existing access / entrance points. This is unacceptable, and in turn undermines farm succession, forces rural dwellers to migrate to urban areas, and weakens rural community cohesion.
That a balanced, sustainable approach to rural planning is required, one that facilitates one-off rural housing where appropriate, supports farm families and essential rural workers, and promotes the refurbishment and reuse of existing vacant homes. Addressing rural planning and housing challenges is essential to sustaining vibrant rural communities, supporting farm viability, and securing the long-term future of rural Ireland.
Planning objections should not be allowed from outside the local area. Development levies should be suspended for rural dwellings and on-farm environmental investments.
To emphasise that, despite numerous government commitments to exclude it, active farmland remains within scope of the Residential Zoned Land Tax. All genuinely farmed land must be permanently exempted from RZLT. The tax is unjust and disproportionate to its income generation capacity.
To propose that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities reverse the tariff increases and recognise the challenges facing the sector and introduce further transitional arrangements for farmers to minimise tariff increases. In addition, significant and continued investment in water and waste management infrastructure and services toward improved performance and supporting implementation of national strategies in relation to public health, safety and environmental compliance.
To propose that access to high-quality fibre broadband service and phone coverage is essential - lowers cost of doing business; supports diversification of rural economies and jobs; enables more people to come/continue to live and work in rural locations.
To propose investment in the local and regional road network to maintain roads to a proper standard and improve regional accessibility.
To propose that small schools are fully supported to avoid the closure of small schools, particularly those in rural areas. They provide a vital link to local heritage and history; help sustain rural populations, and act as a link for sports and social activity.
To propose that Government subsidies are extended under the National Childcare Scheme beyond solely creche places and Tusla registered childcare providers. The provision of childcare in rural areas is often challenging.
To propose the availability of primary care services (GPs, health and social care professionals, Public Health Nursing) in local communities to meet the needs of rural Ireland, and avoid excessive demands on acute hospital settings.
A Home Care Package should be introduced under the Nursing Home Support Scheme/Fair Deal to allow older people to be cared for in their own home; with a reduction of the 5-year land/business transfer clause to a maximum of 3 years to allow more farmers to benefit from the Fair Deal Scheme.
To highlight that it is vitally important that farmers have easy access to sufficient low-cost funding to allow their businesses to trade efficiently.
To propose that a sustainable LEADER budget must be provided to drive ‘bottom-up, community-led' investment to create and sustain employment and support climate change mitigation initiatives in rural communities. It is important to include all stakeholders, including farmers, on LEADER Boards.
The Rural Social Scheme and Farm Assist are vital supports for rural communities and farm families. These schemes provide an essential income support for low-income farmers and help ensure the ongoing viability of family farms, many of which operate on marginal land and face increasing financial pressures.
The Rural Social Scheme plays a crucial role in sustaining rural life by supporting local services, community organisations, environmental maintenance, and care-related work that would otherwise struggle to be delivered. It also provides meaningful, locally based employment for participants, allowing them to remain in their communities while contributing positively to rural society.
Maintaining and strengthening both schemes is essential to protecting rural livelihoods, supporting community resilience, and securing the future of farming and rural Ireland.
To propose an accessible and affordable phone and fibre network that meets the speed and data usage requirements of both current and future Irish consumers. The immediate rollout of the network across all geographic regions, accommodating all rural premises/farms including those that are at a distance from main roads.
The rollout plans must run as a parallel process, starting at the most rural edges of the network and working back to ensure that those most in need of the service receive it as a priority.
To emphasise that investment in remote working infrastructure is needed to enable more people to live and work in rural communities, including where available the conversion of vacant properties in town centres as Remote Working Hubs.
That, in parallel and in line with Government Strategy for the Future Development of Greenways and the Greenway Code of Best Practice greenway projects must maximise the use of public lands and minimise the impact and disruption on privately owned lands and farms.
IFA propose that, with regards to the design/development of recreational routes:
Landowners and IFA must be consulted
- In advance of route selection and the publication of a defined route corridor
- In protecting the integrity of farm holdings and using all available public lands
- In developing a code of practice, which sets out the rights and entitlements of landowners
- In ensuring landowners are indemnified against any potential claims arising
- To ensure all health and safety concerns are adequately addressed
- All efforts must be made to secure voluntary agreements with landowners. There should be no threat of the compulsory acquisition of land.
- Any losses incurred, such as exclusion from farm schemes, must be fully compensated
- The appointment of a Project Liaison Officer by Local Authorities, to hold community clinics to address queries and concerns.
To highlight that The Walks Scheme has a significant impact on the development of recreational activities and boosting rural tourism. There needs to be provision made for ongoing maintenance grants, and greater promotion and enforcement of the ‘No Dogs Allowed' policy for the protection of ground nesting birds, biodiversity and farm animals.
In addition, where levels of recreational use far exceed that initially anticipated, a review and/or bonus payment mechanism is required for impacted landowners.
To highlight that 'The Programme for Government' also commits to diversification of coastal economies and the development of a Marine Tourism Strategy and marketing of eco-tourism to expand coastal tourism – development of such actions would further enhance tourism in rural coastal communities.
To stress that the health and wellbeing of farmers must remain central to farm safety efforts. Stress, financial pressure, and long working hours can impair judgement and increase the likelihood of accidents. Supporting farmers through advisory services, financial supports, and health initiatives plays a key role in improving safety outcomes.
To emphasise that protecting farm safety is about safeguarding lives, supporting farm families, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the farming sector. Continued collaboration between government, farming organisations, and rural agencies is essential to reducing accidents and fatalities on farms. The importance of early intervention and preventative healthcare is clearly demonstrated through the IFA Farmer Health Check Programme.
To highlight that rural crime has become a growing and deeply worrying issue for farmers and rural dwellers alike. It affects not only personal safety and peace of mind but also the viability of family farms and rural businesses. To address this, there is a clear need for greater Garda visibility, supported by increased staffing levels and a more consistent on-the-ground presence in rural areas.
That existing community alert, neighbourhood watch, and property-marking initiatives should be reviewed and strengthened. Working in genuine partnership with rural stakeholders, these schemes must be made more accessible, better resourced, and more widely promoted.
To emphasise that access to essential services remains a significant challenge for people living in rural Ireland and is a key factor in determining the long-term sustainability of rural communities. The continued closure or reduced availability of local post offices, banks, and retail services weakens rural towns and villages, increases isolation, and places additional time and cost burdens on rural households and farm families.
Investment in accessible, flexible, and locally delivered services is essential to supporting population retention, social inclusion, and vibrant, resilient rural communities.
To highlight that the biggest barrier to meeting the climate action targets is the financial vulnerability of many farms as it limits their ability to adopt new practices and stifles innovation. The National Parks & Wildlife Service is charged with developing Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan, associated measures must be prioritised on publicly owned land; with additional only by way of of voluntary, incentivised measures with farmer consent.
That, in relation to ash dieback, farmers should not be solely responsible for removing ash trees along public roads. A dedicated scheme/financial package must be urgently introduced to provide necessary support to farmers to safely remove diseased roadside ash trees.
To propose that a robust carbon trading mechanism should be introduced, alongside a proactive targeted education initiative, that guides farmers on how best to improve their environmental footprint/protect peatlands.
To propose that there must be an accurate measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals at farm level.
To propose that on-farm measures such as anaerobic digestion and rooftop solar should count towards reducing emissions from the agricultural sector.
That an urgent review of Government Biomethane and Anaerobic Digestion(AD) policy, and tangible financial supports is also required.
That policy measures around land use change including the forestry programme, biodiversity proposals and rewetting must all be agreed with farmers, with full compensation provided for any reduction in farming activity or associated impairment of land values.
That, supporting coastal communities towards benefitting from the development of offshore renewable energy projects should also include stakeholder engagement with coastal communities.
To propose that, in respect of forestry corridors for ESB Network overhead lines, the ESB Network would outline and explain how compensation to landowners is calculated and the market valuation processes used to arrive at the offer made to landowners.
To propose that landowners would have the services of an independent forestry consultant available to them to properly evaluate losses and compile a fair and equitable compensation claim and to assess any compensation offers from ESB Network. The cost of such independent advice should be borne by ESB Network.
To highlight that farmers often play a key role in recovery operations during extreme weather events. Without formal recognition, legal cover, and practical supports, their ability to help is limited.
To propose that the following actions/steps need to be taken to ensure that there is an efficient and robust response to extreme weather events on farms and rural communities:
1.Provide full public indemnity to farmers in their role as community first responders during officially declared weather emergencies. This is essential to cover farmers and individuals using farm machinery in good faith to clear snow, ice, debris, or assist during emergencies, ensuring that they are not held liable for accidental damage.
2. Develop a national register of community weather first responders to include farmers. The provision of loader attachments such as snow ploughs to be made available to weather first responders should also be considered by local authorities.
3. Urgent development of a national scheme to support the safe removal of dangerous roadside trees.
4.Include IFA representation on both National and Local Emergency Response Committees/Taskforces, ensuring rural communities are directly represented in emergency planning and response coordination.
5. Strengthen rural infrastructure resilience with targeted investment in roads, power, and water systems capable of withstanding extreme weather.
6. Establish a permanent National Farm and Rural Community Hardship Fund to deliver fast, fair, and flexible financial support to farm families in the aftermath of severe weather events.
To highlight that the 'Farmers' Charter of Rights' does not include the actions and activities of Local Authorities, especially in respect of farm inspections undertaken per the Local Government Water Pollution Act and the GAP25 regulations.
To propose that a Local Authority Farm Inspection Protocol should be agreed with IFA to better ensure farmers, and Local Authority staff, are treated fairly, with respect, dignity and professionalism at all times. In addition Local Authorities inspectors must provide at least 48 hours' notice.
That, although IFA supports the introduction of planning guidelines in the area of Solar planning, they must be based on consultation with all stake holders in rural communities.
To propose that there would be greater farmer involvement, including a degree of ownership in renewable developments, including solar, wind and Anaerobic Digestion (AD).
That there must be greater investment in the grid by Eirgrid to allow further solar farm developments to be located in the most suitable areas that minimise the impact on local communities, local agriculture and the environment.
To propose a dedicated renewable energy grant scheme, separate from TAMS, with funding provided from the €3bn Climate & Nature Fund for on-farm renewable investments, including roof-top solar.