Fianna Fáil vows to appoint rural minister
The measure is one of a number to be announced later today, when the party launches its ‘Manifesto for Rural Ireland’. The policy document, produced by Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson, Éamon Ó Cuív, and community affairs Spokesperson, Bobby Aylward, will outline the party’s proposals for rural services, infrastructure and employment.
The party says it will maintain GP presence in rural areas by increasing the rural practice allowance for doctors, from €16,216.07 to €25,000, and will allocate €5m to pay GPs to attend house calls in rural areas.
In education, the policy document will not give specific targets for student-teacher ratios, but states that both these ratios and school transport eligibility criteria will be restored to pre-2011 levels.
Fianna Fáil proposes to tackle rural crime by installing CCTV systems on motorway exits, introducing mandatory sentences for burglary and assaults on the elderly, and by maintaining existing rural Garda stations.
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The party says that if in government it will oversee the installation of fibre broadband on all premises in the country, through a mix of state intervention and private operators.
Meanwhile, two other parties launched key election plans at the weekend, with the election looming.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan yesterday revealed the group’s health policy plans, which include the abolition of the HSE and the creation of a community health organisation. This would prioritise medical care and health promotion in communities, rather than hospitals.
The Anti Austerity Alliance launched its election strategy on Saturday evening, saying the economic recovery had failed to help a significant percentage of families, with the housing crisis an example.
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