Target balanced regional population growth

What this means

• This is a government commitment, set out in the 2025 Programme for Government, to spread population and investment growth more evenly across Ireland rather than concentrating it in Dublin.[source]
• The commitment falls under rural and community policy and is being led by the Department of Rural and Community Development, headed by Minister Dara Calleary.[source]
• It was first stated on 23 January 2025 and is currently listed as in progress. No specific delivery deadline has been set.[source]
• The aim is balanced regional development, meaning towns and regions outside Dublin should see fairer shares of jobs, people, and public investment over time.[source]
• Because no deadline is attached, citizens and oversight bodies should watch for measurable targets or plans from the Department to hold this commitment to account.[source]

Direct impact (2)

• delivery owned by body
  Department of Rural and Community DevelopmentBody
• delivery owned by officeholder
  Dara CallearyOfficeholder

Indirect impact (10)

Two-hop relationships traced through the entity above. Useful for spotting downstream knock-on effects.

• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Teachta Dála2-hop via dara-calleary
  Dáil ÉireannBody
• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Minister for Social Protection2-hop via dara-calleary
  Department of Social ProtectionBody
• delivery owned by body → owns statutory mandate2-hop via dept-rural
  Rural and community development policyMandate
• delivery owned by body → holds role: Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Department of Transport2-hop via dept-rural
  Jerry ButtimerOfficeholder
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-rural
  Expand Local Link rural transport servicesCommitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → member of party2-hop via dara-calleary
  Fianna FáilParty
• delivery owned by officeholder → responsible for commitment2-hop via dara-calleary
  Extend hot school meals to all primary schoolsCommitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → responsible for commitment2-hop via dara-calleary
  Maintain the State pension age at 66Commitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → responsible for commitment2-hop via dara-calleary
  Significantly increase the Carer's Allowance income disregardCommitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → responsible for commitment2-hop via dara-calleary
  Introduce pay-related jobseeker's benefitCommitment