Pat Spillane to chair commission responsible for rural jobs strategy

Kerry football legend Pat Spillane will be the chairman of the new Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, Environment Minister Phil Hogan announced yesterday.

Mr Hogan said: “Getting people back to work remains this Government’s number-one objective. Building on the Action Plan for Jobs, Jobsbridge and the new initiatives I announced in Putting People First, which empowers local government to drive economic development and create jobs at a local level, I am now establishing a new commission that will generate a jobs strategy for rural Ireland.

“The commission will examine the non farming, ’outside the farm gate’ aspects of economic development in rural areas and undertake an extensive public consultation on the future economic potential of rural Ireland and how best to channel funding and resources between 2013 and 2025.

“This new commission is particularly relevant given that unemployment has increased more in rural areas,” Mr Hogan said.

Pat Spillane said: “I am delighted to be able to accept this important appointment.

“The unemployment situation is the real national crisis, affecting people deeply, the length and breadth of the land. It has particularly affected young people, who are struggling to get employment, many of whom are being forced to emigrate, decimating the fabric of rural society. I look forward to working with the members of the commission to try to come up with ideas that will help to alleviate this situation.”

The commission will involve three stages:

* A nationwide consultation of rural stakeholders including employers, unions, farm bodies, community organisations and the public sector.

* Research and analysis of economic factors affecting rural areas.

* The preparation of a report supporting the medium-term economic development of the rural areas for the period to 2025.

Mr Hogan said: “Pat Spillane is the ideal candidate to act as chairman... He has been a leader throughout his life, whether it be on the sporting field, where he won nine All-Star awards, in his professional life, as a school principal in St Gobán’s College, Bantry or in his media career.

“Coming form a rural area, Templenoe in Co Kerry, where he lives with his wife and three children, and helping since his childhood days in running the family pub business, he has direct experience of the challenges facing rural Ireland. He is a passionate, enthusiastic and non-partisan champion of rural issues. Pat will do a great job in working with the commission to deliver recommendations to create jobs in rural Ireland.”