Minister warns of rural 'exodus'

Rural communities face being wiped out as more people move to bigger towns and cities, the rural development minister said today.

Eamon O'Cuiv, said years of neglect by past governments had led to depopulation which, without drastic action, would see the end of many smaller villages.

Speaking at the National Rural Development Forum in Co Galway he said: ‘‘It is glaringly obvious that many rural areas are under serious threat, which is why this forum is so important in bringing the people of rural Ireland together.

‘‘Over the decades there has been a continual decline in a large number of areas. Even more obvious is the fact that if we do not do something now, depopulation in many areas will very quickly get to the point of no return.’’

Minister O'Cuiv said new laws would be brought in by the Government to make rural areas more attractive and to ‘‘ensure that the decline of previous generations will stop now, in this generation’’.

Representatives from local communities joined members of Government departments and local authorities in Maam Cross to air their views at the third annual meeting of the forum, and explain what the new laws should contain.

Top of the agenda was how people can get access to banks and post offices out of town.

And there was a debate on rural planning - including the problems caused by one-off applications for planning permission in remote areas.