Cork town a prime example of a rural area that is ‘stagnating’ through government neglect

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Cork Cllr Peter O'Donoghue Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. Photo: PA The urgent need for inceased supports for rural Ireland was highlighted at a recent public meeting in Mitchelstown. Aontú councillor Peter O’Donoghue, who organised the rural regeneration meeting, said it is ‘impossible’ to source a home to live in or rent in the Mitchelstown area. “Rural Ireland is being hollowed out, and people are leaving as they have nowhere to live. If you go on Daft.ie there are some ten homes for sale and one for rent in the area so how can anyone born and reared in Mitchelstown have any hope of living here. It is impossible.” Referring to the ongoing issues with the wastewater treatment plant in Mitchelstown, Cllr O’Donoghue said: “We know the infrastructure isn’t in place to accommodate housing. There is a €3.5 million investment in that now, but is that going to increase housing. “I don’t believe it is as the wastewater treatment plant was operating at over capacity for the last number of years. There seems to be a glaring lack of forward planning and that is the fault of government,” he added. Cllr O’Donoghue said pubs and shops are essential services for communities in rural Ireland. “Rural businesses are far more than just places of commerce; they’re the social engine of rural Ireland and when the community loses its social hub there is a fracturing of that community. We are calling for a support scheme to be developed for these shops and businesses in rural Ireland to ensure that social hubs remain within these rural communities.” Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. Photo: PA Aontú leader deputy Peadar Tóibín cited the recent fuel protests as a desperate plea for help from people who are working all hours just to try and keep afloat. “Farming is not in good shape. Only 37% of farmers are independently economically sustainable. That means that in only 35% of farms the income is sufficient to cover all the costs of the family. A further 35% of farms are only economically sustainable because a family member supplements the income of the farm by working outside the farm. “According to Teagasc the remaining 30% of the farms are not economically sustainable. The average wage of a farmer is €24,000, this is €10,000 less than the average industrial wage,” he added. “Ireland is becoming a city state,” said Mr Tóibín. “The population size of Dublin in proportion to the rest of the country is decidedly imbalanced in comparison with other countries in Europe. It is estimated that currently 500 post offices are economically unsustainable. 139 garda stations have been closed. We have also seen the closure of many banks, shops and pubs in rural Ireland.” The Aontu party leader reiterated his calls for the development of two new major international cities to counteract the over-dominance of Dublin and Belfast on the social and economic development of the island. “These cities should become the default cities for new technology, infrastructural innovations and pilots. A specific spatial development fund for infrastructural investment should be focused on these two cities. “The Western Development Commission is a successful development organisation and the government should consider the rolling out of this structure to other regional and rural areas like Cork. An island wide national greenway and blueway plan should be included,” he added. Mr Tóibín also called on the government to consider imposing a commercial rate on out-of-town car parking spaces and a strong vacant house and site tax to counteract dereliction and vacancy which is gutting many towns and villages. “Third level education is a significant driver of enterprise development,” stated the Aontú party leader. “The lack of third level education in certain regions is one of the causes of youth flight. Encouraging third level institutions to provide outreach campuses in regional towns would allow for young people to remain living in local areas and could facilitate the development of enterprise and industry in those same areas.” CAVANAGH’S FERMOY FL DIVISION 1