Rural communities ‘under threat’

Portumna: Rural communities feel they are increasingly under threat from official Ireland and its policies, according to Irish Rural Link, which will discuss the issue at its annual conference in Portumna, Co Galway, tomorrow and Friday.

IRL said rural communities have lost confidence in the planning system, Spatial Strategy is on life support, farm incomes and farming numbers are falling and rural hospitals and emergency services are being threatened.

Seamus Boland, national co-ordinator, said rural communities are continuing to be undermined by the lack of action and finances on the part of the national and local government and various State agencies.