€30m Rural Renewal Scheme Is Pathetic And Insulting

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has strongly criticised the Government’s announcement of a €30m Rural Renewal Scheme as pathetic.

Speaking from the National Ploughing Championships, the Midlands North West MEP said,

“The announcement of the new €30m scheme to improve rural areas hit by the economic downturn is a typical response of the Irish Government – it is pathetic and insulating.  When you consider that more money was actually spent on a underground DART proposal for Dublin that will now not even go ahead it shows in stark terms this government’s approach to rural communities.

“All across rural Ireland communities have been left with no employment opportunities for the young resulting in mass emigration from these areas. Through our ongoing consultations with local families, businesses, farmers and service providers we have spelled out to both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael led governments the impact of their policy of austerity on livelihoods and local economies.

A Member of the EU Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Mr Carthy continued:

“What is actually required is a serious stimulus package aimed at creating jobs, securing investment and enticing the five hundred thousand people who left our country in recent years to come back.

“Through its two-tiered approach to recovery this Government is out of touch with what our country actually needs.  Today’s pathetic and insulting announcement just reinforces that fact. “