Cabinet defends €60m rural boost plan

The Government has been forced to defend plans to rejuvenate rural towns and villages after the opposition claimed the promised €60m cash injection will amount to just €100,000 per community.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and a string of rural-based ministers insisted the initiative will help bring the economic recovery to isolated regions yesterday, amid repeated criticism from Fianna Fáil and Labour that the policy is a “rehash” of previous plans and offers few tangible benefits.

The targets detailed in the 71-page plan — which are based on the five areas of sustainable communities, enterprise and employment, rural tourism, culture and improving infrastructure and connectivity — include: