Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Save Rural Ireland is a new group of stakeholders representative of 1,200 community groups across the country. The group was recently formed and has over 100,000 members currently. They met a group of TDs and Senators yesterday to express their views on the continuing demise of rural Ireland and the need for Government policy to halt this downward slide. They are highlighting the issues currently affecting the social and economic development of rural Ireland and they are seeking a change in Government policies in several issues pertaining to rural decline. At the presentation to Oireachtas Members and to the media yesterday, the group reflected on many issues similar to those raised in Richard Curran's outstanding documentary programme on Monday night last on RTE1. The programme, aptly titled "The Battle for Rural Ireland," depicted the plight of rural areas and their fight to survive. The group's representatives sense that the rural community has gone to the edge of the cliff. They have got to the stage at which they are prepared to fight and resist being given the final push out over the cliff and into the abyss of no return. That is the reality facing the countryside at present.

Almost a decade of recession and recession policies and politics has taken a huge toll on these rural areas, and the group has identified a number of key issues which need immediate attention. Will the Government address in what remains of its lifetime a number of these items that were brought before us yesterday?

There is need for a regional spread in job creation. At present, three quarters of all jobs are going into Dublin and other principal cities, and this cannot be allowed to continue. The Government needs to accelerate the roll-out of broadband and ensure the viability of post offices and other services. Some GP services in rural areas are being discontinued due to retirements, etc. We need to get back our doctors from abroad and ensure there are services in remote rural areas. There are several such cases at present. The issue of Bus Éireann routes is topical.

Finally, I compliment the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on what she has achieved in government in changing the system for school enrolment. This would mean the retention of a significant number of teachers as well as the recruitment of a number of additional teachers. I will give her credit; she has rural Ireland in her heart. Perhaps she will take these matters to Cabinet.

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