Rural plan envisages 135,000 new jobs
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.
“This action plan needs to be fully resourced with a dedicated budget to ensure that the full potential of rural Ireland can be realised.”
The plan contains 276 actions, many of which are scheduled by the Government to be completed this year.
The Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys said implementation of actions will be monitored closely, and progress reports will be published every six months, along with new actions in response to new challenges and opportunities.
Key actions include supporting creation of 135,000 new rural jobs by 2020.
Over 4,000 rural projects will be assisted to boost economic development, tackle social exclusion and provide services to people in remote areas.
A 12% increase in tourist visitors to rural Ireland is targeted in the next three years.
Targets are set for rollout of high-speed broadband, and capital funding for flood risk schemes (including a feasibility study of voluntary relocation of farm buildings affected by floods).
Rural policing is to benefit from 3,200 new Garda members over the next four years, and a new community CCTV grant aid scheme.
In the health sector, the Government has committed to deliver 18 new primary care centres by 2019, and to invest €435m in 90 public nursing facilities and district and community hospitals in rural Ireland, up to 2021.
Rural areas are to be included in over €50m of investment in sports, recreation and cultural facilities.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said the action plan aligns closely with Food Wise 2025, the agri-food strategy scheduled to deliver a further 23,000 jobs by 2025.
According to the “Realising our Rural Potential — Action Plan for Rural Development”, agriculture has diminished in terms of its overall share of the economy, but remains hugely important to rural Ireland and the national economy, and retains capacity for further growth.
