Kenny calls for urgent action to revive rural communities
Kenny calls for urgent action to revive rural communities - The Labour Party
Labour’s Eoghan Kenny TD said Government inaction is driving rural depopulation across Cork and that the urgent need for reform is clear. Speaking after a series of public concerns raised by communities and media reports he called for a national plan to protect rural towns and villages, particularly on the north side of Cork. He said real action on remote working and planning reform is needed so families can live, work and thrive in rural Ireland.
Deputy Kenny said:
“People in rural Cork know better than anyone that our towns and villages are being hollowed out. We see empty shops, declining school enrolments and young families being pushed towards cities because the State has failed to plan for rural living in the twenty first century. We have seen two separate articles in two days, reflecting not just a cultural concern but a political failure. Government continues to ignore what communities are living through on the ground.
“Remote working showed us during the pandemic that people do not have to be chained to the office in Cork city or Dublin to contribute to the economy. Families can live in rural areas, raise children in their home communities and contribute to local life. The barrier is not ability or desire. The barrier is politics. Government must legislate for a clear right to remote or hybrid working. That would allow thousands of young workers and families to stay in rural Cork and other rural regions instead of being driven into already overcrowded cities.
“Any serious rural development plan must also tackle the red tape that comes with one off housing. We talk about keeping schools, GAA clubs, pubs, cafes and restaurants alive but none of these can survive if people cannot put down roots. It should not be an ordeal to build a family home in rural Ireland.
“Depopulation is not inevitable. It is the direct result of Government choices. The north side of Cork and rural towns across the county deserve the same opportunity to thrive as any urban centre. We need homes people can build without needless obstruction and we need a legal right to remote and hybrid work so families can stay and grow their communities. I am calling on Government to stop the drift and take real action now so that our rural towns and villages survive and flourish for the next generation.”