Sinn Féin TD Johnny Mythen for Wexford has today criticised the government’s ‘Our Rural Future’ policy paper for lacking a timeline for delivery and failing to focus beyond remote working in order to achieve the ambitious change necessary to develop our communities. 

He added that there is an absence of concrete measures to create jobs and deliver investment in infrastructure in Co. Wexford and across rural Ireland. 

Teachta Mythen said: 

“Rural Ireland has been neglected by government after government for decades and it is time that our towns, villages and rural communities are finally listened to instead of being ignored and overlooked. 

“The government has now launched the ‘Our Rural Future’ policy paper, which they have lauded as a plan to save rural Ireland. 

“However, it is nothing but a rehash of previous announcements and symbolic of the lack of vision the government has for our rural communities. There is an absence of concrete measures to create badly needed jobs in our rural towns and villages, and deliver balanced regional investment in infrastructure. 

“It is deeply disappointing that the report fails to give timelines and contains no new or additional funding but instead almost all the figures announced in this document are a re-hash of previous announcements. 

“Communities need more than vague promises, they need to see real action and delivery. I will be pressing the government on this to ensure that concrete timelines for delivery, as well as increased funding, are put in place. 

“The policy focuses on remote working but we need to look beyond just remote working opportunities in order to achieve long-term, sustainable change beyond the pandemic. We need to see jobs that are based in our towns, villages and rural communities as well as remote working options. 

“People must be at the heart of any plans and making sure that people living in rural communities can have the same opportunities to prosper is a key part of that. 

“The plan acknowledges the need for the provision of public services, but the recent closures of bank branches in many rural areas are a stark contrast to this ambition, for example in Taghmon and Rosslare. It is important that we support access to services, investing in infrastructure and the regeneration of rural towns and villages, to ensure rural towns and villages are vibrant and thriving places to live. 

“For example it appears there is no additional funding for road infrastructure improvements accompanying this policy, which is deeply disappointing as it is badly needed across the entirety of Co.Wexford. We cannot talk about regeneration of Wexford without fixing our basic roads infrastructure. 

“We also know how important the music sector is to Wexford, and yet music is only mentioned once in the entire policy. This is unbelievable given how important music is to our mental health, and the local economy. 

“Finally, it is crucial that any development plans for rural and regional areas are supported by the people living in these communities- not merely handed down from Dublin. All of these stakeholders must work in partnership to ensure that rural communities can flourish.

“It’s time to stand up for our towns, villages and rural communities to ensure people get the resources, funding and opportunities they should be entitled to. Sinn Féin will continue to give rural communities a voice and hold the Government to account on this.”