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Rural Economic Development

The Rural Section of Economic Development seeks to work with business interests, communities and relevant partners to improve the economic performance of rural Waterford.

Our focus is to unlock rural enterprise initiative, support partnership working and sensitively exploit the economic opportunities for those who live and work in rural areas.

This is achieved through the development of local town and village plans and supported through various funding schemes.

Local Economic & Community Plan


The Local Government Reform Act 2014 contains a statutory provision for the preparation of a six year Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) which was adopted by Waterford City & County Council at their meeting on 14th December 2023. The purpose of the LECP is to set out the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of Waterford.

The LECP was developed in consultation with key stakeholders, the broader community and business interests and has noted relevant national, regional and local policies.  The Rural Economic Development section will help deliver elements of the objectives within the LECP through working with communities and agency partners to provide resource attention to priority projects for Rural Waterford.

Our Rural Future


Our Rural Future represents the Irish Government’s blueprint for a post-COVID-19 recovery and development of rural Ireland over the next 5 years.

It provides the framework to achieve the vision of transforming the quality of life and opportunity for people living in rural areas. https://www.gov.ie/pdf/132413/?page=22