Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041

Overview

Rural communities are essential to the social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of Northern Ireland. Our rural areas include small towns, villages, hamlets, farming communities, and the open countryside. They are shaped by agriculture, local businesses, strong community ties, and the natural environment.

Each rural place has individual characteristics, needs, and opportunities. Some rural communities are close to cities or large towns, while others are more remote, surrounded by open countryside, located at the coast or near the border. Because of this, rural communities face different challenges and have different opportunities.

This consultation asks for your views on how people and government can work together to better understand, champion and support rural Northern Ireland.

It invites views on the proposed policy, including the vision, aim, objectives and guiding principles.