Bank of Ireland Closure of Branches a Slap in the Face for Rural Ireland – IFA
IFA President Tim Cullinan said today’s announcement from Bank of Ireland is very disappointing news for farming and rural communities. “This comes as a slap in the face to farmers and rural communities who rely on local branches for banking services. We estimate that over 80% of the branches identified for closure are in […]
Minister Creed fiddling with rules while rural Ireland burns in savage fodder crisis – Mattie McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has stated that farmers are being driven to the limits of their endurance as the consequences of an unprecedented lack of available fodder kicks in. Deputy McGrath was speaking after he called on the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to immediately draw up and implement plans including the possible importation of […]
New Research Shows Volunteers Making Major Impact In Rural Communities
A new report published by Volunteer Ireland and NUI Galway explores how volunteering impacts the development and sustainability of rural communities. The report was launched at NUI Galway to mark National Volunteering Week (14th – 20thMay) by Minister Sean Kyne TD, Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Natural Resources and Pat Spillane, Ambassador for the Action Plan […]
IFA Meets UK Farm Leaders On Shared Brexit Concerns
With a year to go to ‘Brexit Day’, March 29th 2019, IFA President Joe Healy has warned rapid progress in the withdrawal agreement negotiations is needed to avoid a disastrous no-deal scenario and UK cheap food policy. Joe Healy said, “While the transition period agreed earlier this month gives some certainty, that will only […]
National Planning Framework is ‘Dublin- Centric’ and lacks ambition for Rural Ireland – IFA
IFA Environment Chairman Thomas Cooney has described the draft National Planning Framework developed by Government as “Dublin-centric and lacking ambition for rural Ireland.” Thomas Cooney said, “The Government’s aspiration to develop a planning framework out to 2040 in a balanced and coherent way fails rural Ireland, particularly in the addressing following four areas: the decline […]
Boundary Changes Must Not Target Urban Growth At Rural Expense – Rural Independent Group
Members of the Oireachtas Rural Independent Group are set to call on the government to ensure that any proposed changes to county boundaries do not adversely affect the possibility of future rural regeneration. The members were speaking ahead of a Dáil debate on the Group’s private members motion on the issue. The Motion is also […]
Increased Tax On Motor Fuel Would Damage Ireland – IPIA
The companies who import and distribute petrol and diesel have written to the Minister for Finance urging him resist attempts to increase excise on motor fuels as this would damage our competitiveness and hit rural Ireland particularly hard. The Department of Finance Tax Strategy Group has pointed out that excise rates on petrol and diesel […]
Government Inaction Resulting In Slow Seath Of Rural GP Practice – Mattie McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath will today challenge the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, to immediately clarify the steps he is taking to address the ongoing crisis in rural GP Practice. Deputy McGrath was speaking ahead of a Dáil Topical Issue Debate that he requested on foot of a report in today’s Irish Independent that shows […]
If Mobile Phone Coverage Is This Bad, What Hope Is There For Broadband – Mattie McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called on the Minister for Communications Denis Naughten to urgently investigate what measures his Department can take to combat increasingly poor mobile phone coverage. Deputy McGrath was speaking as frustration continues to grow in large parts of rural Ireland where consistent and reliable mobile coverage is practically non-existent: “Many of […]
Expected Retirement Of 157 GP’s Will Hit Rural Ireland Hardest – Mattie McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has described the latest information related to the number of GP’s who are expected to retire as deeply concerning. Deputy McGrath was speaking after information provided to him by the HSE following a Parliamentary Question stated that 157 GP’s will no longer practice within the public health system by 2021: “The […]
