Relax rural planning laws, says Fogarty

MUNSTER COUNCIL chairman Sean Fogarty has called on local authorities to relax planning laws in an effort to assist the GAA in rural areas.

Mr Fogarty is concerned that strict planning legislation is preventing people from returning to live in rural communities — and clubs are suffering as a result.

Said Mr Fogarty: “If we, as an association, don’t take action to prevent the drain from the land, many of our rural clubs will fold due to lack of numbers. Already clubs are having problems fielding teams. I believe the GAA should highlight and indeed lobby against this trend with the relevant authorities as a matter of urgency.”