Govt wants your views on future of the Mallow area

PEOPLE in Mallow and the wider North Cork region have been invited to have their say in the implementation of a new Government initiative aimed at drawing up a new framework to oversee the development of rural communities across the country.

On Monday, September 30 a public consultation workshop will take place at the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow during which officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development will be seeking views from the public on the key opportunities and challenges facing rural Ireland over the next five years.

The suggestions made at the meeting will be used to help formulate a new policy policy for rural Ireland that will follow on from the Government’s ‘Action Plan for Rural Development’, which will reach the conclusion of its three-year cycle at the end of 2019.

Commenting on the Mallow event the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, said it was part of a broader process aimed at informing the development of the new five-year policy that will run from next year.

“My Department is very interested to hear the views of people living and working in rural areas. Their insights into both the challenges that impact on rural living and the opportunities available to rural areas will be vitally important to the policy development process,” said Minister Ring.

He said the new policy would reflect both “the changing nature of work, and changing society we live in” and take into account issues including demographic trends, climate change, the changing nature of employment, access to public services, broadband and Brexit.

“It will focus on strengthening rural communities and rural economies, and will identify policy measures which need to be put in place in order to achieve these objectives,” he said.

Senator Tim Lombard echoed these sentiments, saying that those who are unable to attend the event in Mallow will also be able to contribute through an online survey under the consultation process.

“The new policy will reflect a whole-of- Government commitment to rural Ireland and will take account of other key policy initiatives such as Project Ireland 2040, Future Jobs Ireland and the Government’s Climate Action Plan,” said Senator Lombard.

“I would strongly encourage people living in Cork to have their say on this vitally important policy area,” said Senator Lombard.

The online survey will be available to complete at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ CTPVSHB until Friday, October 11.