Rural areas ‘need development zones’ to recover

Special economic development zones need to be set up to pump jobs into country areas, a top level report has insisted.

A refocusing of the way central government looks at rural Ireland would include the environment minister taking on the role of business co-ordinator for non-urban communities, the study says.

The report, by the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (Cedra), stresses that this is necessary to drive down stubbornly high unemployment rates outside of the State’s five main population centres.

The suggested rural economic development zones would be brought-in along with a new system of easy access “micro-loans” for small and medium businesses in country communities.

The report, which was launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Environment Minister Phil Hogan in Mayo, is critical of the slow progress of the rollout of broadband in rural areas, and calls on the Government to speed up its efforts and boost the power of connections.

Cedra chairman Pat Spillane says that special attention needs to be paid to rural areas as they suffered more in the economic crash than city communities.

Unemployment in country areas has increased by 192% since 2008, while it increased by 114% in urban communities since 2008, the study says.

“The impact is visible nationwide, with closed shops, the steady flow of emigrants, and the resulting impact on community, sporting, and cultural life,” the report states.

The Cedra study criticises a lack of focus and co-ordination regarding initiatives intended to boost rural areas in recent years.

Mr Kenny, who said he is “passionate” about rural Ireland, pledged: “Change for the better is coming.”

“The previous government and its policies left rural Ireland completely exposed to the strong economic headwind that hit our country.”

A Fianna Fáil spokesperson said that the Government had targeted farming and rural communities for cutbacks in transport, post offices, and broadband rollout.

The Cedra report, which includes 34 recommendations, also said rural road improvement projects which benefit the tourism industry should be prioritised.

Cedra also wants to see a streamlining of the system surrounding marine licences, and an effort to boost speciality food and drink industries.

Meanwhile, a Teagasc report also highlighted rural problems by stating that nobody is employed in a third of working age households in small and medium towns.

The study said that poverty rates were up to twice the level in small communities that they are in urban ones.

Report recommends

- The creation of rural economic development zones.

- The environment minister should act as the Government focal point for rejuvenation of economic activity in non-metropolitan areas.

- Rollout of broadband with minimum delivery capability of 30Mbps must be completed by the end of next year.

- Towns of at least 1,500 people should get fibre networks, with next generation speeds of 100Mbps, not current target of 40Mbps, as soon as possible.

- Easy-access micro-loans should be made available to small and medium firms in rural areas.