Commuting kills village life: 40% don’t know neighbours

ONE-IN-FOUR of rural dwellers travel more than 40 miles a day to work and this is having an adverse effect on their local community, a survey published yesterday revealed.

The survey of 1,250 rural households showed that more than four out of every 10 non-farm rural households have no involvement in any community, voluntary or sporting organisation and have little or no contact with their neighbours.

“Many commuters are simply ‘sleeping’ in their rural homes. This disconnectivity and lack of neighbourliness creates concern for the social fabric of many rural areas,” the study said.

The survey, conducted throughout the country and published by National University of Ireland, showed that, while rural population and employment levels have increased, many rural areas are highly vulnerable to a declining farming sector and to a downturn in the economy. A low level of entrepreneurship and a failure by farmers to diversify from conventional agriculture were among the key findings of the survey, launched by Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív.

Conducted by 70 participants in the e-learning Diploma in Rural Development course provided by UCD, UCC, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth, the survey shows that agriculture is still the most important source of employment for rural dwellers, accounting for 30% of the total. Construction is the second most important employment source, absorbing 12% of the rural workforce, followed by manufacturing at 7% and healthcare at 6%.

The remaining 45% of rural workers work in a diverse range of services, including public services.

The survey reveals a low level of entrepreneurial activity, with just 7% of rural households involved in enterprises employing more than one person. Only 1% of all rural households, are involved in ‘wealth-creating’ enterprises. It also shows a very low level of diversification by farmers into areas outside of conventional agriculture.

With the exception of tourism, where less than 3% of farm households are involved, farmers have relied on off-farm jobs, many of which are insecure, to boost household income.

Professor Jim Phelan of UCD said: “The abundant job opportunities, especially in construction, and the acceptance of commuting seemed to have stifled some of the innovation among farm families and rural dwellers generally.”

Professor Phelan said some of these jobs, particularly in areas such as construction, are vulnerable.

Also, while farming will continue to be a major source of employment, its relative contribution will continue to decline.

“Future rural development policy must be targeted towards selected areas of enterprise and employment rather than the ‘broad brush’ approach that has operated up to now,” he said.