Ms Caitlin Faye Maniti:

I echo a point that was made earlier. Ms Walsh is from Cork and I come from the other side of the country. I wish to shine a light on issues that are not specific to rural areas. We all face common challenges but the solution is not a one-size-fits-all policy. I have realised through talking to my peers in the national rural youth assembly, that dialogue, that we share passion and love for our rural counties, Donegal in my case. We all want to stay in those areas but it is not sustainable for us to do so. We need fundamental change from the ground up. If we are helped and given the resources to stay within our rural areas and the facilities to further develop those areas, we will be able to stay in the counties we love. Those facilities include transport and accommodation. We must address the housing crisis, which is a prominent issue in Donegal, including the mica crisis that is still a problem that needs to be solved and we are constantly advocating for that. Young people want to stay in rural Ireland. There are colleges there. As I enter third level education, I want to get trained. I want to get my education in college, perhaps in Dublin or Maynooth, and then return to my rural area and make a career and life there. However, it is not sustainable for me to do so. That was the point I wanted to make.