City dwellers subsidise rural life, says planner

CITY dwellers are subsidising the lifestyles of rural people, who are paying less for basic services, according to a planning consultant.

Dr Diarmuid O'Grada says the "urban fairy godmother" is paying for the higher cost of rural water services, sewage treatment and school buses.

"This has far-reaching implications for sustainable planning. If the cost of servicing random houses in rural areas is so high, the Government will have to tighten it up a lot more," he said.