Why shouldn’t people want to live in North Cork?
All too often, people when deciding where to live after graduating from college choose to ignore the amazing opportunities that living in our rich, vibrant and close communities in North Cork provide. In too many cases, they believe that they won’t have the same quality of life as those living in cities, or that they won’t access to the same amenities and services.
Unfortunately, after years of under-funding and neglect, they are right. The simple fact is that living in small towns in north Cork is not as attractive as living in the city or in the large suburbs. When people weigh up the pros and cons of both, the Duhallow area falls down.
It doesn’t fall down because of the beauty of the area, or the decency of the people. It falls down because it doesn’t have the services and amenities that communities in the city have, and that has to stop.
There are too many gaps in the provision of services in North Cork, and that it causing more and more people to move to the larger towns, and leave smaller towns.
Rural Ireland is at risk of sleepwalking into oblivion unless a radical approach to how services and amenities are provided.
Cork’s population is growing, but its growth is concentrating in the larger towns in, and around, the city. Unless we improve the delivery of services, enhance connectivity and above all else, match the quality of life that is available in the city and larger towns, then the drain on rural Ireland will continue.
So what do we need to see happen? We need to rethink what it means to live in rural Ireland and, before we go any further, rural Ireland isn’t small isolated villages, it’s everywhere in between major cities and urban areas, so it affects everyone in North Cork.
There are five core issues that need to be addressed if we are to stop the hollowing out of rural Ireland: Improving our road infrastructure; delivering fibre-optic, high speed, broadband; building the houses we need; investing in healthcare; and protecting farm family incomes.
If these five things are addressed, we will ensure that more people chose to move to, or remain, in North Cork. If not, the flow of people from rural to large urban will continue, and rural communities will face decimation.
BROADBAND & CONNECTIVITY
High quality broadband is critical for every aspect of life now – be it work, social, travel, banking, farming and administration. The delay in rolling out the National Broadband Plan has been nothing short of an abject failure. It’s time that all stakeholders push on and roll it out as quickly as possible. Further delays will only increase the gap between rural and urban Ireland.
Why is it that some people seem to think that it is OK to ignore the connectivity needs of rural communities in North Cork? The M20 project, if delivered as per the original plan, would not only link Cork and Limerick, but would also open up north Cork to business. Those advocating replacing the proposed project with a spur off the M8 via Tipperary don’t care or understand the needs of towns such as Charleville which desperately need bypasses and links to Munster’s two cities. Those who want to live in north Cork, but have jobs in Cork City or Limerick need a direct motorway.
HOUSING AND PLANNING
In any objective analysis of housing construction, the State is failing its citizens. Be it public or private housing, supply is nowhere near what’s needed to meet demand. Increasing private rent costs, reduced social housing construction, debilitating planning rules that stop one-off housing all mean that those wanting to live in north Cork have limited options. The old adage that the further away you go from the cities, the cheaper the cost of housing just doesn’t hold up anymore.
Major changes are required in planning laws to make it easier for those wishing to build a home in our communities to do so. There are too many hurdles for them to jump over to get planning permission. It’s unfair and counter-productive in the long term.
HEALTHCARE
Too many of our health services are being delivered centrally in Cork City. Of course, there are some, such as 24/7 Emergency Departments, surgeries or maternity services, that must be provided in that way. However, the necessity of travelling to the city for every test and procedure needs to be looked at.
Can we provide some of these services in our communities through enhanced Primary Care facilities that reduce the need for going to hospitals? Decentralised health services that provide better, more efficient care for people is what needs to be focused on.
Let’s ensure that if someone decides to live in north Cork that they don’t need to worry about having a local GP service or delays in an ambulance arriving in an emergency.
PROTECTING FARM INCOMES
The last 10 years have seen continued reductions in family farm incomes. Lower prices, increased competition from European farmers and severe market volatility have made it more and more difficult for farmers to earn the income they need to keep their businesses going, and provide for their families.
Direct payments to farm families under CAP sustain rural communities and family farms. Future reviews of CAP must not only safeguard existing family farms, but prepare the way for young farmers to stay on their family farms, earn a decent living and look after their families.
We need to address the challenge of land abandonment. Too many young farmers are choosing to give up their land rather than working it. Longer term, this will have major implications for food production. It’s time we give young farmers positive reasons to stay working on the land.
Outside of primary producers, there is a wealth of opportunities to develop new jobs in agri-business to make living in north Cork more attractive. This requires us fixing the problems for those who want to set up new businesses, or those who want to expand their existing businesses.
Rural Ireland needs a new deal from government. It needs to be prioritised, and provided with the tools it needs to grow and prosper. A change in mindset is required at all levels of government if we are to stem the damage in rural Ireland and allow it to recover in a way that makes it attractive to people and families.
Our communities want a level playing field on which to fight to attract and retain families, businesses and services. North Cork is my home and it’s something I will fight for, for as long as I am in Dáil Éireann. My priority over the next number of months is to ensure that those making decisions in government recognise the crisis that is engulfing rural Ireland.