Open consultation Public Consultation on Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041

Summary

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) invites you to take part in the public consultation for Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026–2041.

We welcome contributions from everyone with an interest in rural communities. Share your views and help us understand, champion and support rural Northern Ireland.

Have your say online via Citizen Space, click “Respond Online” below.

The consultation is open until Monday, 1st June 2026 at 23:59 – don’t miss your chance to make a difference.

Documents

• Consultation Document Rural NI: Our New Approach (2026-2041) Adobe PDF (7 MB)
• A5 Summary Document Adobe PDF (863 KB)
• Easy Read Consultation Document Adobe PDF (4 MB)
• Rural Needs Impact Assessment Adobe PDF (280 KB)
• Equality Impact Screening Template Adobe PDF (758 KB)
• Understanding Rural Communities Working Group Report Adobe PDF (418 KB)
• Understanding Rural Communities Working Group Report – Annexes Adobe PDF (8 MB)
• Championing Rural Communities Working Group Report Adobe PDF (2 MB)
• Championing Rural Communities Working Group Report – Annexes Adobe PDF (2 MB)
• Supporting Rural Communities Working Group Report Adobe PDF (498 KB)
• Supporting Rural Communities Working Group Report – Annexes Adobe PDF (2 MB)

Help viewing documents

Consultation description

Rural Policy Co-design Working Group Reports

Three Rural Policy Co-design Working Groups were set up, with each focusing on one key area; Understanding, Championing and Supporting rural Northern Ireland. These working groups took forward the policy development, producing detailed reports containing 27 recommendations. 

Following completion of the co-design process, the proposals agreed by the Working Groups were reviewed and combined into a set of five policy proposals, set out in the ‘Proposals’ chapter in the consultation document above. These detailed working group reports and their annexes are available above.

Have Your Say

Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041 has been shaped by wide engagement with government, councils, community groups, and academia, through an inclusive co-design process.

We invite you to share your thoughts and feedback on these draft proposals. Your input is invaluable and will help shape the final policy. Please take this opportunity to have your say and help influence the future of rural Northern Ireland.

Let’s Talk Rural – Public Consultation Events

The public consultation sessions will be hosted across the region, including 11 in person events and 2 online events. Registration is preferred for attendance at events to allow us to manage capacity. 

The venues, dates, times and registration details are listed below. 

List of Public Consultation Events

Enniskillen, Southwest College	Tuesday 24 March 10.30am – 12.30pm
Online	Wednesday 25 March 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Omagh, Strule Arts Centre	Monday 30 March 10.30am – 12.30pm
Bangor, Bangor Carnegie Library	Friday 17 April 10.30am – 12.30pm
Armagh, Southern Regional College	Monday 20 April 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ballyclare, Ballyclare Town Hall	Tuesday 21 April 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ballymena, Braid Theatre	Wednesday 22 April 10.30am – 12.30pm
Strabane, Strabane Enterprise Centre	Monday 27 April 10.30am – 12.30pm
Limavady, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre	Tuesday 28 April 10.30am – 12.30pm
Lisburn, Lagan Valley Island	Thursday 07 May 10.30am – 12.30pm
Newry, Altnaveigh House	Friday 08 May 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cookstown, Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre	Tuesday 12 May 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Online	Monday 18 May 7.00pm – 8.30pm

To register for any of the events listed above, visit the Rural NI: Our New Approach (2026-2041) Eventbrite Webpage. 

The primary method for responses is online via Citizen Space using the  “Respond Online” link below.

If this is not possible, you can however respond to this consultation via email or you can respond in writing to the postal address.