The Government has published its plans for a €60m investment to create over 100,000 jobs in rural communities over the next three years.
The plan, Realising our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Rural Development, contains 270 measures aimed at rejuvenating 600 towns and villages in a three-year period but warns of the fallout for the agri-food sector from Brexit.
The results of last year's general election produced a programme for partnership Government littered with rural development issues and independent TDs' wish lists.
The derelict state of commercial property in dozens of towns and villages led to a promise of an injection of €60m across the country and the creation of 135,000 jobs over a three-year period.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed said the plan gives a "whole Government approach to rural development" and added that the commitments align closely with Food Wise 2025, which is the department's ten year strategy for the agri-food sector and other programmes.
The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works said there is huge potential in rural Ireland that needs to be realised and tapped into.
Sean Canney said that the action plan is about more than just investing in towns and cities around the country.
"There's huge potential in rural Ireland. We need to tap into that and realise it and bring jobs forward.
"It's more than just a €60m investment in rural and regional towns, there's also a pilot scheme to encourage residency/occupation in towns and villages.
"It's also to increase tourism and the creation of 135,000 jobs in rural Ireland by 2020."
Mr Canney said many of the jobs would come from indigenous businesses.
In addition he said that IDA Ireland would continue to work to attract foreign direct investment in rural areas across Ireland and was to receive extra funding to assist these efforts.
Mr Canney said Minister for Transport Shane Ross had made a commitment that no area would be left unconnected as a result of any changes to Bus Éireann's Expressway service and the company's financial problems had to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys said the Government's action plan for Rural Development is focusing on supporting sustainable communities and maximising rural potential.
Ms Humphreys said that supporting indigenous industry and increasing foreign direct investment would help in the creation of jobs.
In addition, efforts will be made to see if local authorities can introduce rates alleviation schemes.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, she said people are needed to revitalise towns and, with this in mind, she wanted to issue grant aids in the region of €20,000, to encourage people to purchase properties in towns and villages and renovate them.
This would not be a tax rebate but a straight forward grant and the pilot scheme will be rolled out in the second half of this year.
"I want to encourage them to move in by grant aiding them to renovate the property ... I particularly want this to be a very straight forward grant aid", she said.
She added that her role was to empower and faciliate people in making their areas the best they could be.
The minister added that the Government was committed to delivering high-speed broadband to every household in the country.
It was, she said, a huge undertaking, akin to rural electrification.
She pointed out that €10m will be invested in national parks and nature reserves to improve the visitor experience and encourage more tourists.
Meanwhile the Chief Executive of Rural Link has give a cautious welcome to the Government's regeneration plan for rural Ireland.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One, Mr Boland described the €60m plan as strong and comprehensive, but called on the Government for further investment. He said €60m, should not be the limit.
Mr Boland also said indigenous jobs and broadband need to be prioritised.
