Rural Ireland needs a new voice demanding basic rights and facilities
It could redress the growing imbalance between rural and urban areas. Discrimination against rural areas includes cutbacks in health services, closure of Garda stations, reduced bus services, closure of small post offices and national schools, deterioration of secondary roads, centralisation of schools, school transport cuts, and cutbacks in remedial education.
Why do we treat vulnerable children so callously, particularly in rural areas? Children have returned to school after the summer holiday. How many places were available for those with special needs? How many parents were refused enrolment for their children because there were no places - a total infringement of constitutional rights.
