Press Release
Saturday, 6 June 2026
Minister Calleary visits Inishturk, Co Mayo
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, visited Inishturk Island in Co Mayo to see first-hand the impact of Government investment in the island community through a range of rural, community and island development programmes.
During the visit, the Minister met with local residents and community groups and viewed a number of projects that have received Government support in recent years. He also heard from the local community about their priorities for the sustainable future development of the island under the Renewed Community Futures Plan.
Speaking during the visit, Minister Calleary said:
“Island communities make an invaluable contribution to Ireland’s social, cultural and economic life. Government is committed to supporting vibrant and sustainable island communities through targeted investment that responds to local needs and creates opportunities for current and future generations.
“Today’s visit demonstrates the positive impact that partnership between local communities, local authorities and Government can achieve. The projects I have seen are helping to strengthen community life, improve local infrastructure, support recreation and tourism, and enhance the overall sustainability of island living.”
The Minister’s visit coincided with the launch of the National Broadband Ireland network on the island, marking another important milestone for the National Broadband Plan. This rollout ensures that people living and working on Inishturk have the same opportunities as those in our towns and cities, supporting sustainable communities, remote working, education and local enterprise in even the most remote parts of Mayo and beyond.
The Minister also met with the network of local authority broadband officers who held a meeting of the Telecommunications Action Group at the Broadband Connection Point on the island.
The meeting was an opportunity for the Minister to acknowledge the crucial role of broadband officers in capitalising on the significant investment in digital connectivity improvements through the rollout of the National Broadband Plan and the establishment of a national network of over 400 remote working hubs and 300 Broadband Connection Points.
A key focus of the next iteration of the Government’s rural development policy, Our Rural Future, will be on maximising the potential of these networks for the benefit of rural communities.
Speaking at the TAG meeting, the Minister said:
“Government is committed to ensuring that rural communities continue to benefit from the opportunities that enhanced digital connectivity provides.
“It provides access to jobs in rural areas. It helps businesses to start and grow locally, facilitating balanced economic growth. It reduces social and rural isolation, supports rural regeneration and allows more people to remain in or return to the community in which they grew up.
“Broadband Officers play an important role in enabling us to achieve our ambition, engaging with local stakeholders and providing the vital link between national policy and local delivery.”
Preasráiteas
Dé Sathairn, 6 Meitheamh 2026
Cuairt tugtha ag an Aire Calleary ar Inis Toirc, Co. Mhaigh Eo
Thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt ar Inis Toirc i gCo. Mhaigh Eo chun léargas pearsanta a fháil ar thionchar infheistíocht an Rialtas i bpobal an oileáin trí réimse clár forbartha tuaithe, pobail agus oileáin.
Le linn na cuairte, bhuail an tAire le muintir na háite agus grúpaí pobail agus bhreathnaigh sé ar roinnt tionscadal a fuair tacaíocht Rialtais le blianta beaga anuas. Fuair sé eolas freisin ón phobal áitiúil faoina dtosaíochtaí ó thaobh fhorbairt an oileáin amach anseo faoi Phlean Thodhchaí Athnuaite an Phobail.
Agus é ag labhairt le linn na cuairte, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is cuid fhíorluachmhar iad pobail oileánda i saol sóisialta, cultúrtha agus eacnamaíoch na hÉireann. Tá rún daingean ag an Rialtas tacú le pobail oileánda bhríomhara inbhuanaithe trí infheistíocht spriocdhírithe a fhreastalaíonn ar riachtanais áitiúla agus a chruthaíonn deiseanna do ghlúnta an lae inniu agus an lae amárach.
“Is léiriú é an chuairt inniu ar an dea-thionchar is féidir a bhaint amach trí chomhpháirtíocht idir phobail áitiúla, údaráis áitiúla agus an Rialtas. Leis na tionscadail atá feicthe agam, cabhraítear le saol an phobail a neartú, infreastruchtúr áitiúil a fheabhsú, tacú le háineas agus turasóireacht, agus inbhuanaitheacht fhoriomlán shaol an oileáin a mhéadú.”
Tharla cuairt an Aire ag an am chéanna le seoladh líonra Leathanbhanda Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar an oileán, a raibh mar chloch mhíle thábhachtach eile sa Phlean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda. Cinntítear leis an rolladh amach seo gurb ionann na deiseanna atá acu siúd atá ina gcónaí agus ag obair ar Inis Toirc agus deiseanna iad siúd inár mbailte agus cathracha, chun tacú le pobail inbhuanaithe, cianobair, oideachas agus fiontraíocht áitiúil, fiú sna codanna is iargúlta de Mhaigh Eo agus níos faide i gcéin.
Bhuail an tAire freisin le líonra na n-oifigeach leathanbhanda de chuid na n-údarás áitiúil, a reáchtáil cruinniú den Ghrúpa Gníomhaíochta Teileachumarsáide (GGT) ag an Phointe Ceangail Leathanbhanda ar an oileán.
Ba dheis í an cruinniú don Aire aitheantas a thabhairt do ról ríthábhachtach na n-oifigeach leathanbhanda chun lántairbhe a bhaint as an infheistíocht shuntasach i bhfeabhsúcháin nascachta digití trí rolladh amach an Phlean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda agus trí bhunú líonra náisiúnta de 400 mol cianoibre agus 300 Pointe Ceangail Leathanbhanda.
Sa chéad leagan eile de bheartas forbartha tuaithe an Rialtais, Ár dTodhchaí Thuaithe, príomhthosaíocht a bheidh ann lánacmhainn a bhaint as na líonraí seo ar mhaithe le pobail tuaithe.
Agus é ag labhairt ag cruinniú an GGT, dúirt an tAire:
“Tá rún daingean ag an Rialtas cinnte a dhéanamh go leanann pobail tuaithe de bheith ag baint tairbhe as na deiseanna a fhaightear trí nascacht dhigiteach fheabhsaithe.
“Tugann sé rochtain ar phoist i gceantair thuaithe. Cabhraíonn sé le gnólachtaí le tosú agus le fás go háitiúil, rud a éascaíonn fás eacnamaíoch cothrom. Laghdaíonn sé aonrú sóisialta agus tuaithe, tacaíonn sé le hathbheochan tuaithe agus ligeann sé do thuilleadh daoine fan sa phobal inar tógadh iad, nó bogadh ar ais chuige.
“Is ról tábhachtach atá ag na hOifigigh Leathanbhanda agus muid ag baint ár n-uaillmhian amach, ag dul i gcomhar le geallsealbhóirí áitiúla agus ag cruthú an naisc ríthábhachtaigh idir beartas náisiúnta agus seachadadh áitiúil”