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20 Feb 2026
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20 Feb 2026
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Resdients and farmers in Mayo could benefit from the OECD's review, which highlights opportunities in tourism, agriculture, and local services.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published its first Rural Policy Review of Ireland, offering an independent analysis of rural development policy and providing recommendations to guide the new Our Rural Future policy for 2026–2031, which could benefit Mayo communities.
The report, published on 16 February 2026, acknowledges the whole-of-government approach Ireland has taken to rural development, noting the role of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in elevating rural policy since its establishment in 2017.
It highlights the potential of rural areas in sectors such as tourism, the green economy, and food production, while also pointing to ongoing challenges around access to services, infrastructure, and enterprise support.
READ MORE: €69 million roads funding boost for Mayo welcomed by Minister Dillon
For counties like Mayo, the review underscores the importance of targeted investment and localised strategies to strengthen communities, support rural enterprises, and maintain essential services. It also highlights the need to better use rural intelligence — including data on population trends, employment, and local economies — to inform policy decisions at both national and county level.
Minister of State for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, has said: “This review has provided a highly valuable independent evaluation of Irish rural policy, [...]. Of course, challenges remain in ensuring we fully achieve this ambition and the detailed analysis provided by the OECD will help us to do this.”
The publication follows a two-year OECD review process involving multiple mission visits to Ireland, consultations with national and local stakeholders, and cross-departmental engagement. The findings will now feed into the development of the next phase of the Our Rural Future policy, guiding investment and support in Mayo and other rural counties for the coming five years.
The full OECD report can be accessed here.
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