From CAP to veterinary schools: How is Government delivering on its rural commitments?
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said recently in the Dáil that his department was identified as the lead organisation for 105 of the 122 actions contained within the Agriculture and Food, and Fisheries and Marine sections of the 'Securing Ireland's Future' Programme for Government, published in January 2025.
The new €30m National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme has been one of the more expensive Programme for Government commitments delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said recently in the Dáil that his department was identified as the lead organisation for 105 of the 122 actions contained within the Agriculture and Food, and Fisheries and Marine sections of the “Securing Ireland's Future” Programme for Government, published in January 2025.
Of the 105 actions, he said five have reached “target achieved” status. A further 28 are categorised as having “substantial action undertaken and ongoing”, while 64 are listed as “action commenced and progressing”. Eight actions have not yet commenced.
Responding to a question from Dún Laoghaire TD Cormac Devlin (Fianna Fáil), minister Heydon said some of the main achievements since January 2025 include continued Government support for farmers under the €9.8bn CAP Strategic Plan and through specific sectoral supports.
More than €2.18bn in payments were issued to farmers and fishers during 2025. Preparations for a new round of CAP post-2027 have commenced. Ireland has also secured the continued availability of the Nitrates Derogation for a further three years.
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There has been ongoing implementation of the stakeholder-led Food Vision 2030 strategy. A new dashboard to track progress has been launched, a Food Vision Seafood Sector Group has been established and a mid-term review has commenced.
The Bovine TB Action Plan and the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2025-2030) have also been launched.
Ongoing market access work has opened the Thai and Vietnamese markets to Irish beef exports. The Report of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming has also been published.
The re-establishment of a dedicated minister of state for Fisheries and Marine issues was another Programme for Government commitment achieved.
Another significant commitment delivered was the allocation of €27.75m for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours.
Phase two of the €26.2m VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and the DAFM €30m Thematic Research Call 2025 have also been launched.
The National Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Teagasc Oak Park in Co Carlow has been allocated funding of €2.3m since 2020. The One Health Oversight Committee has also been established.
A €105m 2025-2027 partnership agreement with the World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, has also been signed.
Some other Government departments have also worked on Programme for Government commitments affecting rural and agri-food sectors.
The Department of Foreign Affairs was assigned responsibility for working with like-minded EU countries to defend Irish interests in opposing the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
Ireland voted against the EU-Mercosur Agreement last January. However, it remains provisionally in place pending full ratification by EU member states and the European Court of Justice.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also co-ordinated work across Government on the EU’s simplification agenda to reduce regulatory burdens, particularly for SMEs and farming communities.
The European Commission estimates that simplification measures could generate administrative savings of €11bn annually across the EU.
The Department of Social Protection continues to play a major role in rural Ireland. It was responsible for Programme for Government commitments aimed at improving the Community Employment, TÚS and Rural Social Schemes.
Increased flexibility has been introduced, including three-year Rural Social Scheme (RSS) contracts.
Participants aged 60 years and over may now remain on the scheme until they reach 66, provided they continue to qualify for the relevant social welfare payment.
As part of Budget 2026 measures, there was a €5 increase in the top-up payment for the three schemes, rising from €27.50 to €32.50 per week.
Participants also benefited from the €10 increase in maximum weekly personal payment rates and increases in child support payments where applicable.
At the end of March, there were 2,651 Rural Social Scheme (RSS) participants, including 76 who joined through the new Rural Dweller Pilot, which ring-fences 250 placements for rural dwellers aged 50 and over who receive a qualifying weekly social welfare payment.
Four participants availed of the new flexibility allowing use of the same herd or fishing number.
The Defined Connection change resulted in 13 additional RSS participants who are aged 25 years or over, receiving a qualifying social welfare payment and actively involved in farming or fishing, despite not holding the herd number or licence.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is progressing a commitment to complete the second phase of the Land Use Review.
The review is intended to support landholders and policymakers in making future land-use decisions while balancing agricultural, socio-economic, climate and environmental objectives.
The department said its commitment to raising air quality standards has been successful, citing an EPA report published last September which found that Ireland’s air quality remains generally good and complies with all EU legal requirements.
The European Environment Agency also reported last September that Ireland’s air quality is among the best in Europe.
The Government’s annual Clean Air Strategy Progress Report welcomed reduced ammonia emissions resulting from improvements in agricultural practices.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has also been working on commitments contained within “Securing Ireland’s Future”.
These include investment in regional tourism projects, including walking trails, cycleways, tidal pools and other amenities, as well as collaboration with Coillte on forest visitor infrastructure.
In 2025, 22 new walking trails were approved to join the Walks Scheme.
Should they proceed, eligible landowners will be able to undertake agreed maintenance works and receive payments across a total of 164 trails.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2026-2027, launched last week, will continue this work.
A new feature allows each local authority to submit one application worth up to €50,000 for the pre-development of equestrian trails or bridleways.
Establishing a Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs was itself a Programme for Government commitment.
The department oversees a whole-of-Government approach to rural development.
Its objectives include increasing remote-working hubs, ring-fenced funding for island communities and support for 126 agricultural shows nationwide.
More than €1 million has already been announced for the 2026 agricultural show season.
The department is also engaging at EU level to increase funding for the next LEADER programme and examine ways of reducing LEADER bureaucracy.
Delivery by the minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science includes the establishment of two new veterinary schools.
Both SETU and ATU are expected to begin taking students in 2026, in addition to the existing veterinary programme at UCD.
