Rural Regeneration Initiative to Restore Rural Communities – 06/11/12

 

The Commission, Deputy Conlan says, is to undertake a dialogue with rural communities and their representatives in a bid to formulate a plan for channelling funding into these communities, in such a way as to create sustainable jobs and in so doing, stem the flow of our youth from our rural communities. This is a wonderful development which will reverse the exodus of small businesses and our young and will serve to breathe new life into our parishes and villages which have suffered extensively during the past years.

 

The Commission will complete a consultation process, conduct an analysis of affecting economic factors and then prepare a report supporting the medium term economic development of the rural areas for the period to 2025. This Commission has the potential to deliver a reversal in the fate that has befallen our rural communities and breathe new life into these areas enabling them to participate in the sustainable re generation of the national economy.

 

Pat Spillane, speaking after accepting the Chairmanship of the Commission, said that unemployment is a national crisis affecting every community throughout the country. Deputy Conlan in agreeing with this welcomed the fact that the Government has recognised the part that rural Ireland can play in building a new and sustainable economy, which employs the energies and talents of all our people towards this end. For too long the centres of population have been fortified at the expense of rural communities, which have an equally important contribution to offer.

 

This strategy, the Deputy says will serve to regenerate local communities, offering employment potential and the opportunity for our youth to remain in the communities of their birth and restore the vibrant parochial and village life that played such an important part in the past economic development of this country.