Deasy calls for rural funding

A Fine Gael backbencher has criticised the Government for consistently failing to properly invest in counties outside Dublin and demanded that money must be ringfenced in October’s budget to kick-start stalling economies in rural regions.

Waterford TD John Deasy said the plan must be drawn up to address chronic rural employment problems, which he warned would only be partially addressed by “cynically timed” action plans on jobs.

Speaking before his party colleague Jobs Minister Richard Bruton announced the Government’s action plan for the south-east, Mr Deasy said while such investments are welcome they simply paper over long-standing difficulties.