Rural plan envisages 135,000 new jobs

Farmers welcomed the first ever whole-of-government rural development action plan launched this week by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys.

But IFA President Joe Healy said it must be resourced sufficiently to arrest the decline of rural areas, and the Government must recognise the serious ramifications for the farming and food sectors posed by Brexit.

Macra na Feirme President Sean Finan said, “We have had rural plans developed before, like the Commission for Economic Development in Rural Areas Report, which have achieved little.