Part 1 Policy Overview: rural Ireland - personality and policy context, John Greer and Michael Murray rural development in the 1990s - does prospect lie in retrospect?, Nigel Curry rural developments in the Republic of Ireland, Patrick Commins rural developments in Northern Ireland, Michael Murray and John Greer. Part 2 Sectoral issues: agriculture and the environmentally sensitive area scheme, Joan Moss and Susan Chilton forestry and rural employment, Aine Ni Dhubhain enterprise in rural areas, Mark Hart rural tourism - the passport to development?, Michael Keane. Part 3 Social issues: land or landscape - rural planning policy and the symbolic construction of the countryside, Kay Milton the rural housing problem in Northern Ireland, John McPeake and Brendan Murtagh rural primary schools - policy, planning and curriculum, Leslie Caul health care provision in rural areas, Mark Conway. Part 4 Action and change: local government and community participation, Aideen McGinley county development teams and rural regeneration, Vincent Reynolds the pilot programme for integrated rural development 1988-1990, Eoin O'Malley rural development and paradigm change, Michael Murray and John Greer.