Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Before this emergency, towns and villages throughout rural Ireland were suffering the closure of small businesses, post offices and banks, and now the remaining shop owners are terrified that they will never recover from the impact of Covid-19.

Rural Ireland and small businesses need a co-ordinated response to survive. Departments, local authorities and businesses need to work together. I am surprised and disappointed, therefore, at Cork County Council’s persistence in developing a Kildare Village-style retail outlet centre in east Cork, despite the planning regulator's objection, and the fact that it is contrary to the original county development plan.

Small businesses cannot compete with this kind of development. The proposed retail outlet will further local closures and add to the existing tragic number of derelict buildings. The Cork Business Association and University College Cork researchers have expressed concern for its negative impact on surrounding towns and the city. Too often we are expected to jump at the mention of jobs, but the creation of jobs cannot be at the expense of existing ones.

The British company behind the development promises employment, but we need only look at Debenhams to see the absence of loyalty to workers and communities from corporations. People need dependable jobs. For generations, shops on main streets have been providing them better than conglomerates ever can, and with that comes so much more, such as vibrant high streets, strong communities and places that attract visitors. When visiting Cork, would someone send home a postcard depicting an industrial scale retail outlet or would he or she be more inclined to send one of Kinsale or Baltimore? The proposed development flies in the face of shop local and buy Irish campaigns. Moreover, it is a car-dependent model that champions fast fashion during a climate crisis.

During this emergency, family businesses have gone above and beyond to help others. Central and local government need to help keep jobs in towns and villages before they are completely hollowed out. The planning regulator’s independent evaluation recommended against the proposed development, stating it "fails to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned".

In light of Cork County Council’s appeal, do the Minister of State and the other relevant Ministers intend to follow the independent, impartial recommendation from the Office of the Planning Regulator? Will the Minister of State indicate the criteria for making the decision? More broadly, post Covid-19, can the Government assure existing small business and family-run shops that local authorities will prioritise protecting and enhancing our towns and villages?

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