Greens outline rural development vision
Tourism, transport and alternative employment are key to developing rural areas, the Green Party claimed today.
Launching a new policy on Balancing Rural Development, the party promised that if elected to government it will retain jobs and support enterprise across the country.
The Greens want to tap into tourism by promoting farmers’ markets and devising farm-based tourism in consultation with Fáilte Ireland, County Enterprise Boards and the IFA.
Politicians also want planning authorities to review design and traffic systems within key tourist towns to enhance branding and marketing.
“There has been a halt in rural depopulation and we are seeing more and more people moving to the countryside,” said party leader Trevor Sargent.
“This population shift, however, has been driven more by the cost of living, including the cost of housing, in urban areas, than the relative attraction of the rural economy.
“Our policy aims to set out a sustainable plan to encourage enterprise, tourism and transport in rural Ireland and to ensure that rural communities develop in their own right – not just as commuter dormitories.”
Launched in Kilkenny, the policy includes the establishment of a rural enterprise agency to deliver spending to the right areas.
If elected, the Greens also vowed to promote the clustering of new houses in rural areas and discourage urban generated rural housing which inflates the price of new housing for rural people.
The party would also introduce a new subsidy for rural home owners so that they can have their septic tanks serviced on a regular basis, and develop an Integrated Rural Transport Network combining rural bus services and frequent city and inter-town train services, including the Western Rail Corridor.
“Numbers in full-time farming are predicted to decrease from 100,000 to 10,000 in the next two decades,” said Cllr Mary White, deputy leader and Carlow-Kilkenny candidate.
“Off-farm employment is currently far too reliant upon the construction and services sectors, but new enterprise opportunities are emerging.
“Environmental and health concerns are driving demand for locally produced food, while energy costs are spawning new markets for bio-fuel and renewable energy.
“There is a need to streamline all funding, training and market opportunities available for rural enterprise.”
