Rural renewal scheme wouldn’t pay for a footpath

The Government’s grand plan to revitalise rural Ireland has been met with derision in Galway, with community leaders wondering…is that it?

Political representatives across County Galway claim the new scheme is a ‘fig leaf’, masking the ruling minority coalition’s disdain for rural Ireland and highlighting its inability to recognise the problem.

Heather Humphreys, Minister with responsibility for regional and rural affairs, has pledged €10 million for a new rural town and village renewal scheme.

The money is to be used for measures that will have a “sustainable and visible” impact on rural towns and villages. That includes “increasing the attractiveness of the town or village as a local commercial and social centre, and increase its sustainability as a place in which to live and work.”

Each county is to be allocated €380,000 and eight towns or villages in Galway can apply for funding, with the maximum spend per project capped at €100,000.

“It’s a straw instead of a brush,” said Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on regional development, rural affairs and the Gaeltacht.

And he pointed out that ‘this is not new money’.

“All she is doing is diverting a massive underspend in her department in the Leader programme. It’s a Minister trying to do her best in a Government that doesn’t want to recognise the problem facing rural Ireland,” said the Galway West TD.

The former government minister said the amount of money was “tiny”.

“It’s absolutely miniscule; €10 million spread across 26 counties, is very, very small,” he said.

Deputy Ó Cuív said the figures suggest an average of €47,000 per project.

“That wouldn’t get you a footpath. It is very small money. It’s absolutely tiny. Are they saying that this amount will save rural Ireland? It’s a nonsense. This is window dressing,” he said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.