Fr Éamonn Fitzgibbon
It is just 12 months since the Government launched ‘Realising our Rural Potential: The Action Plan for Rural Development’. This Plan generated hope and optimism in many rural communities as it outlined 270 actions to support rural Ireland.
However, much of this positivity has been dented by the recently launched National Planning Framework Plan. The introduction to The Action Plan for Rural Development promised us that The NFP: Ireland 2040 would build on these actions and seek to address structural issues facing rural Ireland in the longer term, as part of an ongoing process.
However now that the planning framework is published there seems to be a disconnect between the two plans published within 13 months. The National Planning Framework Plan is seen by many as being ‘Dublin-centric’ and it seems to accept the migration from rural communities which was identified by comparing census figures from 2011 to 2016.
While Census 2016 showed a significant upswing in population in major urban areas – Dublin 3.7% and Cork 5.4%, for example – parts of rural Ireland recorded population declines of in excess of 20% from the previous census in 2011.
The movement from many parts of rural Ireland in to urban centres has now become a steady flow. While much concern is expressed at official level about the decline of rural Ireland, evidenced by declining populations, closed Post offices, Garda Stations, local shops and pubs, the reality is that as a nation we haven’t made it easy for people to live there.
The recession hit rural communities more severely than urban areas and again this was reflected in census figures – unemployment in rural areas increased by 192% between 2006 and 2011, compared to 114% in urban areas. In the economic recovery which we are now experiencing it seems that rural Ireland has been left way behind.
Rural Ireland is a tremendous place to live, it is rich in culture and community, offering quality of life for those who live there. To safeguard rural Ireland it is essential that any long-term framework plan places connectivity, services and employment opportunities in rural Ireland front and centre of its stated aims.
Rev. Dr Éamonn Fitzgibbon is Director of the Irish Institute for Pastoral Studies, Mary Immaclate College.