The pressing needs of rural Ireland

Sir — I refer to the article by Richard Curran (Business, Sunday Independent, August 14) entitled ‘Saving rural towns and villages — with a new footpath’.

I fully agree with the views expressed. The recent announcement by the Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys that €10m has been made available this year for a town and village renewal scheme has been described as “window dressing”. The Government’s plan to revitalise rural Ireland has been met with derision and astonishment, and the question “is that it?” has been the reaction in many rural areas. Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said towns and villages needed 10 times the amount announced.

Leading politician Eamon O Cuiv has commented that it “wouldn’t build a footpath”. After dominating the recent general election debate, one would have thought that much more far-reaching and robust policy announcements would be forthcoming, especially as so many rural-based independent TDs make up the current government.

The Leader scheme programme 2014-2020 to support jobs and community initiatives in rural areas has been decreased by €90m on the previous 2007-2013 programme.

What rural Ireland needs more than anything else, is more people attracted back to wellpaid jobs in its villages, towns and cities.

This is especially important along the west and north-west of the country were the recent census figures show a drop in population in the Donegal, Sligo and Mayo regions.

The announcement by the minister in recent weeks is a mere drop in the ocean, and will have little effect in solving the problems of rural Ireland in the years ahead, and may be, already, far too little way too late. Tom Towey Cloonacool

Co Sligo