The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Spillane: ‘I don’t know if I’m still rural ambassador or not’
IN his playing days Kerry football star Pat Spillane was ‘undroppable’ from the Kerry team but now it appears the former GAA star has been sidelined by the government in his role as Ambassador for the National Action Plan for Rural Development.
It emerged this week that the Templenoe man has no idea if he is still the ambassador for rural development, despite repeated attempts to learn his fate.
The Kerry GAA star was named Chairman of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) in 2014, a body tasked with coming up with a plan for rural Ireland. Following the launch of this plan the Kerry man was named as ambassador for Realising our Rural Potential – the Action Plan for Rural Development.
This role carried a salary of €20,000 which was subsequently reduced to €10,000 in 2018, yet almost five months into 2019 the GAA pundit has no idea if he still is or is not the ambassador.
“I haven’t heard anything since December. I haven’t heard yes or no,” he told The Kerryman this week.
“I have left messages for everyone but no-one has come back.”
This is despite repeated attempts to contact the Minister for Rural Affairs, Michael Ring and even the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar but neither have met or spoken with Mr Spillane.
“I’m hoping someone will contact me this week. I don’t know if I am the ambassador because I haven’t heard anything.”
“They could just put something in writing to say if they need me or not.”
He said that he would love to continue in the role to help rural Ireland. He has travelled the length and breadth of the country in preparation for the plan and knows first-hand what rural Ireland needs.
“We need jobs and to bring back young people.”
He said that the GAA numbers are reflective of what is happening to Ireland but that plans are there and rural Ireland can be rejuvenated.
The issue of Pat Spillane’s role was raised in Leaders questions by Cork South West TD Michael Collins after it came to his attention that Mr Spillane was in limbo about his position.
He said that the role of ambassador is important as it is a link between rural communities and the government and that department officials do not get the issues or concerns that affect rural Ireland which is why his role is key.