Elaine Loughlin: What's the cost of rural development - no really, tell us the cost

How many jobs might be created through this new plan to rejuvenate rural towns and villages? We couldn't possibly say

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and Minister for Transport and the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan  at the launch of  'Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021-2025' at Croke Park yesterday. Picture: Julien Behal

A Government-sponsored version of Nationwide which even included presenter Mary Kennedy, was the distraction method deployed to launch a new Rural Development Strategy.

Baffled journalists who sat through the promo video featuring an award-winning cheese maker and a public servant who has moved to Monasterevin, wondered why the launch was even being live-streamed. It's not as if those living in rural Ireland have the broadband to watch it.