Ó Cuív pledge on rural slot in Cabinet

A VOICE at the Cabinet table for rural Ireland – that’s the pledge of Fianna Fáil Agricultural Spokesman Éamon Ó Cuív as the main parties set out their stall in the run-up to any potential new Government.

Deputy Ó Cuív said that Fianna Fáil was committed to ensuring that rural Ireland be given the same employment and economic opportunities as urban areas, in the process redressing the imbalance creaded by Fine Gael and Labour.

“We have committed to introducing a senior ministerial post with responsibility for community support and development to ensure that rural Ireland has a voice at the Cabinet table.

“This will guarantee that the five years of neglect of rural Ireland, and the unbalanced policy development spearheaded by Fine Gael and Labour in office is reversed – rural Ireland fell off the agenda with the last Government,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.

He said that Fianna Fáil had a clear plan in place to revitalise rural Ireland, creating the conditions to encourage employment in local businesses in the regions.

Deputy Ó Cuív said that one of the first priorities would be the rolling out of fibre broadband to every home and business across the country followed by a plan to create 30,000 jobs in rural Ireland.

“We will improve public services in rural areas through a community services guarantee, which would set universal standards for schools, health facilities, social services and Gardai.

“We will also restore the CLÁR programme, which will ensure that vital infrastructure like water, electricity and roads funding. This will help improve the quality of the road network in rural areas and thereby improving accessibility,” said the FF Agricultural Spokesman.

He said that an essential part of the Fianna Fáil rural policy commitment was to ensure that any recovery in the Irish economy would be ‘balanced and fair’.

“Fianna Fáil wants to deliver jobs and growth to all communities, ensuring every citizen has the same opportunity to prosper, regardless of geographic location.  One thing can be guaranteed from Fianna Fáil – we will support rural Ireland,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.