Address by Minister Ann Phelan T.D.,
Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Affairs,
to the MacGill Summer School
on Friday 24 July 2015
THE FUTURE OF RURAL IRELAND – WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
It seems to me very appropriate to be speaking about rural Ireland in the beautiful Glenties.
One cannot be but optimistic in this beautiful part of the world where the hospitality of the
people is as renowned as the area itself. Donegal is the envy of many with its dramatic
scenery, striking seascapes and beautiful villages. And I would like to express my thanks to
the MacGill Summer School and the local community for their kind invitation to contribute to
this event.
It is Friday afternoon and, after the labours of the week, you must be growing a little tired.
And so, while acknowledging the hardships and difficulties endured by local and rural
communities, I propose to concentrate on how we will meet the challenges ahead. I invite
you to share my optimistic view of rural Ireland and perhaps together we can prove W.B.
Yeats wrong when he observed that:
‘Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through
temporary periods of joy’.
The discussion today on rural communities is very close to my heart. As Minister with
responsibility for Rural Affairs, I am committed to ensuring that rural Ireland can benefit from
the economic recovery that is emerging after the recent very difficult years. While this
recovery is significant, its benefits are not yet being felt as profoundly in rural communities as
in the large urban areas. To some extent, this pattern of renewal is inevitable. What is
important, however, is to take positive steps to make sure that these benefits do start to
spread more widely and that they do not remain confined to the cities and other large urban
centres. And the Government is doing this.
As somebody who comes from a rural community, I know only too well the contribution that
rural communities have made to overall national economic development, as well as to the
development of their own local areas. The evidence is clear - rural areas make a significant
contribution to the production of the raw materials and activities which drive significant parts
of national economic life such as through agriculture, food, tourism, construction materials
and energy, to mention but a few.
Developing and maintaining a vibrant rural economy is, therefore, of major national
importance as well as of particular interest to the significant part of the population who
inhabit these areas. The crucial importance of support for agriculture, forestry, fishing and
tourism and their associated industries is a given. Many people live in rural communities in
Ireland and many members of those communities live in the countryside. These
communities cannot, and will not, be abandoned by this Government.
I think it fair to say that, historically, policies in relation to rural development have been
sectorally based. The emphasis was more on developing a particular sector of the economy,
rather than on the development of a particular area. And, of course, agriculture was seen as
the sector which has had most impact on rural areas. I am glad that we now take a more
spatial or place focussed approach, which promotes the integrated development of local
and geographical areas.
To put it in a nutshell: the Government is committed to implementing a strategy for rural
development on the basis of an inclusive approach to sustainable development, the
integration of policies, a regional dimension and partnership with the rural community.
My own vision for rural Ireland is of vibrant, inhabited areas with residential communities
balanced in demographic terms with regard to age and gender. The communities inhabiting
those areas should be experiencing a quality of life at least as high as that experienced in
the urban centres of the country, including easy access to a necessary range of services. My
vision also includes rural areas maximising their economic potential and contributing in a
positive way to the national and global programme of development, which is both beneficial
today and sustainable in the longer-term.
I acknowledge that rural areas need to be managed in a way that protects their
environmental quality and that recognises the contribution of the environment to a high
quality of life. Agricultural production will, of course, continue to be a significant element of
the rural economy, even if the nature of the agricultural output changes, and rural areas will
need to develop their capacity to address future safe energy needs and food security needs,
as well as conserving the natural environment which contributes to their productivity
directly.
In my vision the inhabitants of rural areas and their settlements will rely on their local areas
for an increasing amount of their food requirements, but I also want to see these areas
providing a level of enterprise that minimises the need for their populations to commute to
major urban centres for employment purposes and that rural enterprise nodes are provided
to facilitate this. My vision is one where rural areas will be locations that have the capacity,
facilities and opportunity to develop, retain and profit from the high quality social capital
which they generate. This social capital is largely based on the strength and capacity of the
rural communities themselves which, despite the many changes we have experienced in
recent times, has remained strong. It is a resource to be enhanced and activated.
This approach is very much reflected in the recent report of the Commission for Economic
Development in Rural Areas (CEDRA), which sets out a vision for rural Ireland and a road
map for addressing the challenges that face many rural areas.
Delivering on the Vision: A Government Response
I recognise that the challenges facing rural Ireland are significant. I do, however, believe that
the Government is already supporting ways to ensure that the regions play an on-going and
active part in the development of their own areas. There are some initiatives in particular
that I would like to outline here today, that I believe are going to change the face of local
and regional development, as we move into, what I believe, will be a real era of prosperity
for all parts of our country.
The first initiative is based on the formula used in the very successful Action Plans for Jobs at
a national level. Arising from the recognition that economic recovery and jobs growth are
not being experienced to the same extent in all regions, the Government recently
announced a 5 year, €250 million strategy as a companion to the National Action Plan for
Jobs.
The Action Plan for Jobs – Regional specifically addresses the challenges of job creation at a
regional level. It is based on the principle that the best way to support job-creation in towns
and villages across the country is to support agencies and organisations within each region
to build on the particular strengths and assets of their area and drive new job-creation
strategies and projects. The objective of the new initiative is to strengthen and develop job
creation in the regions by encouraging local authorities, regional bodies, higher education
institutions, other public bodies, the private sector and communities to come forward with
innovative ideas to boost job creation in their area.
The second initiative that I believe will provide a strong long-term foundation for the future
of both local and regional development is the drive to a more coordinated approach to the
delivery of local development funding, which my own Department is leading. A key element
of this changed approach to local development, including the development of rural areas, is
the re-modelling of the role of Local Government to reflect the changing needs and
structures of society. Having been given a more central role in economic development, as
well as in local and community development, local authorities are now ideally placed to
promote an integrated and balanced approach to the social and the economic development
of their areas.
In June 2014, the assortment of stand-alone town councils, dating back to the mid-1800s,
was replaced by a new system of municipal districts. This new arrangement is a radical and
innovative departure in local government structures and governance in Ireland. It also has
major significance for the economic and social progress of local communities.
A major feature of the new system is that urban centres have united with their rural
hinterlands in each municipal district, which is how Local Government is structured
throughout Europe. This reflects the importance of urban centres to the economic and
social well-being of their rural hinterlands and the role that the rural hinterlands play in
supporting the social and economic health of their settlements. The integration of the vision
for settlement and countryside is of great importance and something which I hope to see
reflected in a positive way in plans and strategies over the coming years.
This principle is also an essential part of the Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ)
initiative and will be reflected in the LEADER Local Development Strategies and in the Local
Economic and Community Plans, which I will speak a little more about later on.
A very important element of the reform of local government and its alignment with local
development is the formation of autonomous Local Community Development Committees
at a local level, whose role is to ensure that funding delivered to each area is coordinated
and its benefits maximised. I believe that this drive towards a more coordinated approach is
critical to ensure that all resources available at a local and regional level are maximised and
targeted where they are needed most.
Participation in the development and delivery of Local Economic and Community Plans in
partnership with the Economic SPCs of the Local Authorities is a key function of the new
Committees and I know that these processes are well under way in all Local Authority areas.
I cannot emphasise enough how crucial it is for the future sustainable development of these
areas that the first Local Economic and Community Plans lay a strong foundation. I know
that the implementation of these Plans will require collaboration between a wide range of
agencies, communities and local authorities and I am committed to doing what I can to
promote a collaborative approach by Government Departments and central agencies which
will facilitate local responses to local needs to the greatest extent possible.
In the context of my rural remit, I am also charged with overseeing the implementation of
the CEDRA recommendations and there is significant work ongoing in various Government
Departments to support that work. As already mentioned, the Regional Action Plan for Jobs
are rolling out over the next few months and just last week the Intervention Strategy for the
National Broadband Plan was launched by my colleague, Minister White.
This is an important step in the implementation of the National Broadband Plan. As we are
all aware, it is practically impossible to effectively conduct business without reliable and
efficient broadband and this is particularly critical when it comes to enterprise support and
job creation.
Access to high quality broadband, and the level of costs involved, have emerged from the
CEDRA consultation process as one of the most significant challenges faced by rural
communities, particularly from a business perspective, although, as more services are
delivered online, access to high-quality broadband is becoming a social necessity also. While
many rural businesses and households have access to a basic broadband service, there is a
need to provide access to the kind of cost effective, high capacity internet services that are
required to work in a modern business environment. This is the kind of service envisaged by
this Intervention Strategy, and the National Broadband Plan in general, and I am confident
that it will provide the service necessary to support the development of enterprise in rural
Ireland into the future. It will also facilitate access by rural communities to the recreational,
social and other services which the internet now provides.
I recently launched another initiative that will be of interest and links into the whole coordinated approach to development that I have just been speaking of. With a budget of €2
million, the pilot Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) initiative will focus on areas of
activity that reflect the spatial patterns of local economic activities and development
processes. In other words, they are the sub-county zones within which most people live and
work. This pilot will provide resources to some of the REDZ communities throughout Ireland
to examine ways to further develop the areas where they see potential for economic
development in a coordinated and cooperative way. The learning from these pilot projects
will be used to refine future programs planned in this area.
I’m sure that all of you will be familiar with the LEADER elements of the Rural Development
Programme that have provided resources to support the sustainable development of rural
communities since it began in 1991. From Tipperary to Donegal, Louth to West Cork, I doubt
there is any rural community in Ireland that hasn’t benefitted either directly or indirectly
from LEADER over the past two and a half decades. As you will all be aware, LEADER is
delivered using a community-led approach through the medium of Local Development
Strategies. The Government decided to allocate 7% of the overall Rural Development
Programme to the LEADER element, which is 2% more than the minimum required by the
relevant EU Regulation. This has resulted in an overall programme complement of €250
million for the 2014-2020 period, which is made up of €235 million in respect of the main
element of LEADER coupled with €15 million for two Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine artisan food schemes.
A Partnership approach with Communities
Community initiatives require community spirit, planning and honest endeavour to survive.
They provide opportunities to citizens to involve themselves, consciously and actively, in
their own development and in the development of society. Involvement in community
initiatives empowers people and provides them with the opportunity and framework to
make a difference in the locality in which they live. Indeed, County Donegal, has been, and
continues to be, an exemplar in this kind of positive community activity.
The LEADER programme facilitates this through its bottom up approach. In the current
climate, it is critical that we harness the spirit of dynamic communities who are active
participants in their own development. LEADER provides those who live in rural Ireland with
an avenue to genuinely participate in a very positive way in the sustainable development of
their own communities. The LEADER programme also has the potential to support social
enterprise in rural areas. This sector is a major contributor to employment in a wider
European context and has the potential to provide services in rural communities, which may
not be provided through other means.
I realise that many rural communities in Ireland have suffered from a decline in the
commercial and community services which they have traditionally enjoyed. I also realise
that these services often provide more to a community than being simply a service: they can
be a statement of vitality, of potential, of survival. We are, however, faced with a dilemma.
Professor Malcolm Moseley has spoken of the ‘’iron triangle’ of ubiquity, quality and cost –
we can’t always have widespread, low-cost, high-quality services. The changing character of
society, increased physical mobility and changing methods of service delivery have all
impacted on the provision of services in local communities. This does not mean that nothing
can be done, however.
Social and community-based enterprise is one approach which can help to harness a mix of
commercial and voluntary resources through which services can continue to be provided.
The Plunkett Foundation, established by an Irish pioneer in rural development, has
supported many examples of such services in the UK – including pubs and shops in rural
areas. And there are also many fine examples in Ireland. Indeed, my colleague, Minister Alan
Kelly and I launched the new LEADER programme in one such enterprise, The Cottage Shop
and Café in Loughmore in County Tipperary. LEADER provides a mechanism through which
such enterprises can be supported and I urge all communities, who can see an opportunity
for such a development to work with their local LEADER companies to make it happen.
National Planning Framework & Rural Reform
I believe that we are now on the cusp of a dynamic period of regeneration at all levels - no
more so than at local community level. It is crucial, therefore, that our planning system
reflects the Government’s wider economic and reform agenda in spatial and land-use
management terms.
Let us bear in mind that planning is not just about process. It is about outcomes for people,
for their places. We need to keep planning clear and simple in its aims, understandable in
its language and supported by the wider public, which means listening to local communities
and focusing on what planning does best: building great quality places where people enjoy
living, working and spending their leisure time.
With this in mind, my colleagues at the Department of Environment, Community and Local
Government, Ministers Kelly and Coffey, will shortly publish arrangements for the
preparation of a new National Planning Framework to succeed the 2002 National Spatial
Strategy.
Broadly speaking, the Framework will identify national priorities with regard to future
employment growth and development. Intrinsic to this will be a clear policy framework
within which there will be more dynamic participation by rural areas in overall regional
development. It will also re-emphasise the contribution made by rural-based enterprise in
food, tourism, natural resource and innovation sectors.
This new framework will provide the strategic context for:
 investment in critical national infrastructure by both the public and private sectors in
key areas like housing, transport, energy, water services, communications and waste
management;
 planning at regional and local levels for Ireland’s requirements in relation to housing,
commercial, office and industrial accommodation; and
 preparation of new Regional Economic and Spatial Strategies by the three new
Regional Assemblies.
The Government is committed to progressing a new era of high quality strategic planning.
Allied to this will be a more co-ordinated approach to development, enabled by the highest
standards of customer service and public confidence in the probity and effectiveness of
planning in Ireland. All of this will be underpinned by a greater focus on development that is
sustainable socially and economically as well as environmentally.
The sustainable development of rural areas requires contributions from all parts of
Government, as well as from all parts of the private, community and voluntary sectors. It is
important that this reality is reflected in what ultimately emerges as the new National
Planning Framework and that the rural areas of Ireland receive due recognition and
attention in the final outcome. I will be engaging with my colleagues in the Department and
in Government in general to ensure this. However, I also urge all who are committed to the
rural areas of Ireland to engage with their colleagues within their own sectors whatever
they may be, to ensure that the rural voice is heard and that rural needs are fully considered
in that process. This is a shared responsibility.
Our environment and the rural economy
There is, in some quarters, a perspective that rural economic development and
environmental protection are not compatible. This certainly need not be the case.
Environmental protection does not necessarily require stagnation, but rather carefully
planned and executed, sustainable programmes. We need to strike a balance between
achieving economic progress and the development that we all desire, and the on-going
protection of our natural environment.
The Government’s vision for achieving more sustainable development is set out in the policy
document, Our Sustainable Future, which envisages the integration of sustainable
development concerns into policy and decision-making across all sectors of society in
Ireland.
It is an ambitious document. It challenges us to look beyond short-term economic goals and
instead to grasp the potential of a society built around stable communities, a low-carbon
and climate-resilient economy, and resource-efficient behaviours.
It can be difficult for people to understand the environmental message of sustainability. The
issues often seem distant, remote and impossible for any individual to address. However, we
must communicate the work that is being done in concrete and understandable terms, and
highlight the often unseen benefits that will accrue to citizens, industry and business. The
protection of the environment is a duty which we owe to ourselves, to our children, to
future generations and to the other species with which we share the planet.
The environment and rural development
While the protection of the environment and the minimisation of environmental impact is
important in its own right, in the case of Ireland’s rural areas it also has important economic
implications. When you take into account our combination of natural and built heritage,
Ireland has a unique rural environment from which tangible economic benefits can be
derived and which, therefore, needs to be protected. For example, the “Wild Atlantic Way”,
which passes close by us here, is a fine example of utilising our environmental and cultural
heritage to benefit smaller communities that, up to now, having been in some cases off the
main tourist “drag”, and have not experienced the benefits of tourism growth to the extent
that the spectacular beauty of rural Ireland surely warrants. I am confident that “The Way”
will bring employment and tourist monies to new rural locations in the West.
In the East of the country, Fáilte Ireland is also launching a “sister trail” - “Ireland's Ancient
East” - which will be a cultural and heritage trail that will stretch from the Boyne Valley in
the northeast, through the midlands, Tipperary, my native Kilkenny, Waterford, and end in
Cork. The initiative aims to promote the east and south in a similar manner to the Wild
Atlantic Way. The potential for linkages between the two trails must be utilised to ensure
that the maximum benefits accrue across our island. Indeed, it is estimated that this new
initiative in the East could increase visitor revenue in the local communities in the East to
€950 million by 2020, according to research carried out by Fáilte Ireland.
We need to foster an ambition to ensure that the environment that we live in, the
environment for which we are responsible, is protected, maintained and used in a manner,
which will not only ensure quality of life for present citizens but for future generations. This
need to respect and protect the environment should not be interpreted as a hindrance to
the encouragement of commercial activity in rural towns, but rather as an incentive to
consider development in a future-proofed manner, so as to consider the generations to
come.
There is no denying that Ireland has made great strides in environmental policy and action in
the last 20 years and continues to do so today. However, we cannot become complacent.
Significant challenges lie on the road ahead. The only way to achieve our environmental
goals and maintain economic development is through cooperation and a co-ordinated
approach across all sectors of society. I know rural Ireland will continue to rise to the
challenges.
Conclusion
In conclusion, let me reiterate this Government’s commitment to rural Ireland and its
development, and our commitment to addressing the challenges that the downturn has
presented to rural Ireland. This Government is committed to reversing the very serious
economic and social setbacks that rural Ireland has experienced in recent years with a longterm plan that will deliver jobs in rural Ireland and rich, active vibrant communities. And this
is not merely a statement of intent.
As I have outlined, there are many initiatives being implemented or at an advanced stage of
planning, which will allow this commitment to be fulfilled. The Government will continue to
work closely with local government and local communities to ensure this.
When I began, I invited you to share my positive vision for rural Ireland. I hope you will
accept that invitation and that we can all work together to achieve it.