EVENT POSTPONED
It is with great sadness that we must postpone our Disability Information Event scheduled for Wednesday 25th March.
This decision follows the sudden passing of Ursula Marshall, Chair of the Mid Ulster Disability Forum and Vice Chair of Mobility Mid Ulster. Ursula has been at the forefront of this event, as well as many disability and community initiatives, for over 20 years. Her loss will be deeply felt throughout our community.
We will reschedule the event in due course and share the new date when available.
Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.
Mark Farquhar Manager - Mobility Mid Ulster
It is with great sadness that we must postpone our Disability Information Event scheduled for Wednesday 25th March.
This decision follows the sudden passing of Ursula Marshall, Chair of the Mid Ulster Disability Forum and Vice Chair of Mobility Mid Ulster. Ursula has been at the forefront of this event, as well as many disability and community initiatives, for over 20 years. Her loss will be deeply felt throughout our community.
We will reschedule the event in due course and share the new date when available.
Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.
Mark Farquhar Manager - Mobility Mid Ulster
Public Consultation on Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041 | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
COSTA & CWSAN will be working with local groups
to aid responses to this very important Public Consultation
that will shape Rural Policy following Brexit for the next 15 years ahead.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION - NOW OPEN
Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026 - 2041
Closes: 1 June 2026 at 11.59pm
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) invites you to take part in the public consultation for Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026–2041.
We welcome contributions from everyone with an interest in rural communities. Share your views and help us understand, champion and support rural Northern Ireland.
Have your say online via Citizen Space, click “Respond Online” below.
The consultation is open until Monday, 1st June 2026 at 23:59
don’t miss your chance to make a difference.
Documents:
Rural Policy Co-design Working Group Reports
Three Rural Policy Co-design Working Groups were set up, with each focusing on one key area; Understanding, Championing and Supporting rural Northern Ireland. These working groups took forward the policy development, producing detailed reports containing 27 recommendations.
Following completion of the co-design process, the proposals agreed by the Working Groups were reviewed and combined into a set of five policy proposals, set out in the ‘Proposals’ chapter in the consultation document above. These detailed working group reports and their annexes are available above.
Have Your Say
Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041 has been shaped by wide engagement with government, councils, community groups, and academia, through an inclusive co-design process.
We invite you to share your thoughts and feedback on these draft proposals. Your input is invaluable and will help shape the final policy. Please take this opportunity to have your say and help influence the future of rural Northern Ireland.
Let’s Talk Rural – Public Consultation Events
The public consultation sessions will be hosted across the region,
including 11 in person events and 2 online events.
Registration is preferred for attendance at events to allow us to manage capacity.
List of Public Consultation Events
Enniskillen, Southwest College - Tuesday 24 March - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Online - Wednesday 25 March - 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Omagh, Strule Arts Centre - Monday 30 March -10.30am – 12.30pm
Bangor, Bangor Carnegie Library - Friday 17 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Armagh, Southern Regional College - Monday 20 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ballyclare, Ballyclare Town Hall - Tuesday 21 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ballymena, Braid Theatre - Wednesday 22 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Strabane, Strabane Enterprise Centre - Monday 27 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Limavady, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre -Tuesday 28 April -10.30am – 12.30pm
Lisburn, Lagan Valley Island - Thursday 07 May - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Newry, Altnaveigh House - Friday 08 May - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cookstown, Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre - Tuesday 12 May - 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Online - Monday 18 May - 7.00pm – 8.30pm
To register for any of the events above visit the Rural NI: Our New Approach (2026-2041) Eventbrite Webpage. (external link opens in a new window / tab)
The primary method for responses is online via Citizen Space using the “Respond Online” via link:
Respond online (external link opens in a new window / tab)
If this is not possible, you can however respond to this consultation via email or you can respond in writing to the postal address. Email: [email protected]
Write to: Strategic Rural Policy Branch, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Jubilee House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HP.
In the interim if you need to contact COSTA
Tel: 028 855 56880 or email: [email protected]
COSTA & CWSAN will be working with local groups
to aid responses to this very important Public Consultation
that will shape Rural Policy following Brexit for the next 15 years ahead.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION - NOW OPEN
Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026 - 2041
Closes: 1 June 2026 at 11.59pm
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) invites you to take part in the public consultation for Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026–2041.
We welcome contributions from everyone with an interest in rural communities. Share your views and help us understand, champion and support rural Northern Ireland.
Have your say online via Citizen Space, click “Respond Online” below.
The consultation is open until Monday, 1st June 2026 at 23:59
don’t miss your chance to make a difference.
Documents:
- Consultation Document Rural NI: Our New Approach (2026-2041)Adobe PDF (7 MB)
- A5 Summary DocumentAdobe PDF (863 KB)
- Easy Read Consultation DocumentAdobe PDF (4 MB)
- Rural Needs Impact AssessmentAdobe PDF (280 KB)
- Equality Impact Screening TemplateAdobe PDF (758 KB)
- Understanding Rural Communities Working Group ReportAdobe PDF (418 KB)
- Understanding Rural Communities Working Group Report – AnnexesAdobe PDF (8 MB)
- Championing Rural Communities Working Group ReportAdobe PDF (2 MB)
- Championing Rural Communities Working Group Report – AnnexesAdobe PDF (2 MB)
- Supporting Rural Communities Working Group ReportAdobe PDF (498 KB)
- Supporting Rural Communities Working Group Report – AnnexesAdobe PDF (2 MB)
Rural Policy Co-design Working Group Reports
Three Rural Policy Co-design Working Groups were set up, with each focusing on one key area; Understanding, Championing and Supporting rural Northern Ireland. These working groups took forward the policy development, producing detailed reports containing 27 recommendations.
Following completion of the co-design process, the proposals agreed by the Working Groups were reviewed and combined into a set of five policy proposals, set out in the ‘Proposals’ chapter in the consultation document above. These detailed working group reports and their annexes are available above.
Have Your Say
Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041 has been shaped by wide engagement with government, councils, community groups, and academia, through an inclusive co-design process.
We invite you to share your thoughts and feedback on these draft proposals. Your input is invaluable and will help shape the final policy. Please take this opportunity to have your say and help influence the future of rural Northern Ireland.
Let’s Talk Rural – Public Consultation Events
The public consultation sessions will be hosted across the region,
including 11 in person events and 2 online events.
Registration is preferred for attendance at events to allow us to manage capacity.
List of Public Consultation Events
Enniskillen, Southwest College - Tuesday 24 March - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Online - Wednesday 25 March - 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Omagh, Strule Arts Centre - Monday 30 March -10.30am – 12.30pm
Bangor, Bangor Carnegie Library - Friday 17 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Armagh, Southern Regional College - Monday 20 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ballyclare, Ballyclare Town Hall - Tuesday 21 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Ballymena, Braid Theatre - Wednesday 22 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Strabane, Strabane Enterprise Centre - Monday 27 April - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Limavady, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre -Tuesday 28 April -10.30am – 12.30pm
Lisburn, Lagan Valley Island - Thursday 07 May - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Newry, Altnaveigh House - Friday 08 May - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cookstown, Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre - Tuesday 12 May - 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Online - Monday 18 May - 7.00pm – 8.30pm
To register for any of the events above visit the Rural NI: Our New Approach (2026-2041) Eventbrite Webpage. (external link opens in a new window / tab)
The primary method for responses is online via Citizen Space using the “Respond Online” via link:
Respond online (external link opens in a new window / tab)
If this is not possible, you can however respond to this consultation via email or you can respond in writing to the postal address. Email: [email protected]
Write to: Strategic Rural Policy Branch, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Jubilee House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Limavady, BT49 9HP.
In the interim if you need to contact COSTA
Tel: 028 855 56880 or email: [email protected]
For the latest COSTA Annual Report Click here to download the pdf:
Welcome to COSTA - Community Organisations of South Tyrone & Areas
COSTA is the Rural Support Network (RSN)
for rural communities, groups and organisations in the
Dungannon & South Tyrone area of Mid Ulster District.
COSTA is an umbrella community network established in 2000 to support and represent the interests of rural groups and communities throughout the Borough.
The Network assists local community groups through a wide range of support services including: training, facilitation, access, information, brokerage, consultation - all tailored to individual groups needs.
COSTA currently delivers the following Programmes via our Funders
- Rural Community Development Support Service (RCDSS) -
- Mid Ulster Strategic Community Development Network Organisation -
- Clogher DEA - NI Civil Service Collaboration Test & Learn (CWSAN & COSTA) -
- Access to Resilience - Rural Mid-Ulster (CWSAN & COSTA) -
This website showcases some of the diverse work we do in
helping rural communities to flourish.
COSTA
Community Organisations of South Tyrone & Areas Ltd
President Grants Homestead, 45 Dergenagh Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT70 1TW
Tel: 028 855 56880
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.costaruralsupportnetwork.org
Facebook: Costa Costa http://www.facebook.com/costa.network
OR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/COSTA-Community-Organisations-of-South-Tyrone-Areas-595993680543963/
Registered Company in Northern Ireland: NI 42832
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: NIC 101598
ISO 9001:2015 Cert: FS 592437
COSTA is funded by
Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) through DAERA’s Rural Community Development Support Service (RCDSS) via The Tackling Rural Poverty & Social Isolation Programme (TRPSI) and Mid Ulster District Council
President Grants Homestead, 45 Dergenagh Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT70 1TW
Tel: 028 855 56880
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.costaruralsupportnetwork.org
Facebook: Costa Costa http://www.facebook.com/costa.network
OR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/COSTA-Community-Organisations-of-South-Tyrone-Areas-595993680543963/
Registered Company in Northern Ireland: NI 42832
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: NIC 101598
ISO 9001:2015 Cert: FS 592437
COSTA is funded by
Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) through DAERA’s Rural Community Development Support Service (RCDSS) via The Tackling Rural Poverty & Social Isolation Programme (TRPSI) and Mid Ulster District Council
Click here to see COSTA's Privacy Notice:
For the latest updates
and to access the
DAERA Rural
Micro Capital
Grant Scheme
- Now Closed -
Information & Application Portal click on:
FUNDING: Rural Micro Capital Grant Programme (costaruralsupportnetwork.org)
