Fears that new structures will hit rural development

FARMERS have warned that rural development will suffer due to being combined with social inclusion programmes in new county structures which will implement LEADER and other local development initiatives.

IFA rural development chairman Padraic Divilly said the new structures put in place by Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív will have five county councillors, while social partner groupings — employers, trade unions and farmers — are offered only one seat each, and state organisations of huge relevance to rural areas may not be included.

Macra na Feirme president Colm Markey has slammed the structure proposals from Mr Ó Cuív, saying the groups will be over-populated with county councillors and up to seven semi-state staff, rather than driven by community leaders. He said the proposed one farmer representative out of potential membership of 21 was hard to credit.