Press Release: Minister Jerry Buttimer opens Rural Development Research Symposium at University College Cork

Press Release

Monday, 21 September 2026

Minister Jerry Buttimer opens Rural Development Research Symposium at University College Cork

Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, today opened the first Rural Development Research Symposium of its kind in twenty years at University College Cork.

The Symposium brings together researchers, academics, policymakers and rural development stakeholders to explore key opportunities and challenges shaping the future of rural Ireland. 

Organised by University College Cork and Teagasc, the Symposium is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) under Ireland’s national rural development policy framework, Our Rural Future.

Opening the event, Jerry Buttimer, TD, Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, said:

“I am delighted to open today’s Rural Development Research Symposium which provides an excellent opportunity for researchers and academics to engage with policymakers. 

“Research and evidence are essential to good policymaking and the breadth of research presented at today’s event demonstrates the importance of Ireland’s whole-of-Government approach to rural development.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in today’s Symposium and I look forward to their continued contribution to developing effective, evidence-based policy for rural communities.”

Professor John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, added:

“We are delighted at University College Cork to welcome the first Higher Education Institutions Network (HEIN) Rural Development Research Symposium in over 20 years. The symposium, co-convened by UCC and Teagasc and moderated by UCC Professor Mary O’Shaughnessy, brings together leading researchers, academics, policymakers and practitioners to explore the opportunities and challenges facing rural Ireland. The symposium provides an important forum for connecting research, policy and practice. By bringing together diverse perspectives and evidence from across the rural development community, this symposium will inform the policies and actions needed to support thriving rural places and communities into the future.”

The Higher Education Institutions Network, established under Our Rural Future in 2021, has greatly enhanced collaboration between HEIs, research organisations and government in recent years.

Today’s event is an excellent demonstration of that ongoing collaboration and Government’s commitment to supporting research into rural development priorities.

Speaking about the Government’s support for rural development research, Dara Calleary, TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht said:

“The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is proud to support a number of rural development research initiatives to strengthen the evidence base for rural development policy.

“I would like to thank the Higher Education Institutions Network for its continued work in bringing together researchers and policymakers and for supporting greater collaboration across the sector.

“The research being presented at today’s Symposium is particularly important as we enter the next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy and continue to ensure that our approach is grounded in strong evidence and informed by the experience of rural communities.”

Preasráiteas

Dé Luain, an 21 Meán Fómhair 2026

Osclaíonn an tAire Jerry Buttimer Siompóisiam Taighde Forbartha Tuaithe i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh 

Inniu, d’oscail an tAire Stáit Jerry Buttimer TD, atá freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, an chéad Siompóisiam Taighde Forbartha Tuaithe dá leithéid le fiche bliain i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh.

Tugtar taighdeoirí, acadóirí, lucht déanta beartas agus geallsealbhóirí forbartha tuaithe le chéile sa Siompóisiam seo chun deiseanna agus dúshláin thábhachtacha a mhúnlaíonn todhchaí cheantar tuaithe na hÉireann a iniúchadh. 

Tá tacaíocht á fáil ag an Siompóisiam seo, a d’eagraigh Coláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh agus Teagasc, ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta faoi chreat beartais náisiúnta forbartha tuaithe na hÉireann, Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe. 

Ag oscailt na hócáide, dúirt Jerry Buttimer, TD, Aire Stáit sa Roinn atá freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí:

“Tá áthas orm Siompóisiam Taighde Forbartha Tuaithe an lae inniu a oscailt ina dtugtar deis iontach do thaighdeoirí agus d’acadóirí labhairt le lucht déanta beartas. 

“Tá taighde agus fianaise riachtanach do cheapadh beartas maith agus léiríonn fairsinge an taighde a chuirtear i láthair ag an ócáid inniu tábhacht chur chuige uile-Rialtais na hÉireann i leith na forbartha tuaithe.

“Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine a ghlacann páirt sa Siompóisiam inniu agus táim ag tnúth lena gcabhair leanúnach chun beartas éifeachtach, bunaithe ar fhianaise a fhorbairt do phobail thuaithe.”

Dúirt an tOllamh John F. Cryan, Leas-Uachtarán COC um Thaighde agus Nuálaíocht, an méid seo a leanas:

“Tá an-áthas ar Choláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh fáilte a chur roimh an gcéad Siompóisiam Taighde ar Fhorbairt Tuaithe de chuid Líonra na nInstitiúidí Ardoideachais le breis agus 20 bliain anuas. Sa siompóisiam – atá á eagrú i gcomhpháirt ag COC agus Teagasc agus á mhaoirsiú ag an Ollamh Mary O’Shaughnessy ó COC – tugtar taighdeoirí, acadóirí, lucht déanta beartas agus cleachtóirí mór le rá le chéile chun na deiseanna agus na dúshláin atá roimh Éirinn thuaithe a phlé. Cuirtear ardán tábhachtach ar fáil sa siompóisiam chun an taighde, an beartas agus an cleachtas a nascadh lena chéile. Trí dhearcadh agus fianaise éagsúil ó phobal na forbartha tuaithe a thabhairt le chéile, cuirfear eolas ar fáil sa siompóisiam seo do na beartais agus do na gníomhartha a theastaíonn chun tacú le ceantair agus pobail thuaithe a dhéanfaidh go maith amach anseo.”

Chuir Líonra na nInstitiúidí Ardoideachais – a bunaíodh faoi straitéis Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe in 2021 – feabhas mór ar an gcomhoibriú idir institiúidí ardoideachais, eagraíochtaí taighde agus an rialtas le blianta beaga anuas.

Is sampla den scoth é imeacht an lae inniu den chomhoibriú leanúnach sin agus de thiomantas an Rialtais tacú le taighde ar thosaíochtaí forbartha tuaithe.

Ag labhairt faoi thacaíocht an Rialtais do thaighde ar an bhforbairt tuaithe, dúirt Dara Calleary, T.D., an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta:

“Tá bród ar an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta tacú le roinnt tionscnaimh taighde maidir le forbairt tuaithe, d’fhonn an bonn fianaise do bheartas forbartha tuaithe a neartú.

“Gabhaim buíochas le Líonra na nInstitiúidí Ardoideachais as an obair leanúnach atá á déanamh acu chun taighdeoirí agus lucht déanta beartas a thabhairt le chéile, agus as tacú le comhoibriú níos fearr ar fud na hearnála.

“Tá an taighde atá á chur i láthair ag Siompóisiam an lae inniu thar a bheith tábhachtach agus muid ag dul isteach sa chéad chéim eile de bheartas forbartha tuaithe na hÉireann, agus muid ag cinntiú go bhfuil ár gcur chuige bunaithe ar fhianaise láidir agus go bhfuil sé bunaithe ar thaithí na bpobail thuaithe.”