Dara Calleary TD spoke in the Dáil: Rural Schemes

Dara Calleary, the Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo, took to the Dáil on 21 May 2026 to contribute to a question on “Rural Schemes”. The question, part of a broader debate on rural development, was raised as part of the government’s ongoing review of rural housing rules. In the same session, the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, announced that the Government is preparing the biggest overhaul of rural housing rules in two decades, a move that could reshape the way rural communities access housing and development.

The proposed changes, which are expected to be presented to Cabinet in early June, aim to ease the planning process for families wishing to build one‑off homes. They would remove restrictions that have long limited ribbon and back‑land development and would lift caps on the number of homes that may be built on family farm holdings. The reforms are also intended to address rural and Gaelteacht planning together, recognising the link between rural housing and housing in Gaelteacht areas. Roughly 5,000 one‑off homes are built annually across the country, and the new National Planning Statement would give those with a social or economic need to live in a rural area a reasonable expectation of planning approval.

Calleary, who was first elected as a TD for Mayo in 2007, has held a number of ministerial posts, including Minister of State for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation (2009‑2011) and Minister for Agriculture in 2020, before resigning following the “Golfgate” controversy. After the 2020 general election he was appointed chief whip, and he returned to the Cabinet table earlier this year as Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital Transformation and Company Regulation. He is married to Siobhan, a primary schoolteacher.

The question on rural schemes reflects the continued focus on ensuring that rural communities in Co Mayo and beyond receive the support they need to thrive. For more details, see the Oireachtas debate and RTÉ coverage.

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