“2010 BUDGET DEFENDS RURAL IRELAND” – Ó CUÍV
Written by Eamon Ó Cuív Wednesday, 06 January 2010
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív TD said today that the recent Budget was a clear statement of the Government’s intention to provide and develop services in rural Ireland.
“A wide range of headline proposals that were in the McCarthy Report and that would have had a negative impact on rural Ireland have not been implemented,” said Minister Ó Cuív. “The Government remains committed to rural Ireland; this is obvious from the decisions taken in areas that will have the most impact on the communities and individuals that live in rural areas.”
These include:
Transport
The rural transport scheme is being maintained with funding of €11m, the same amount that was provided in 2009.
Regional Airports
Current funding for regional airports is being maintained in 2010 at €16.926m.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In the Estimates of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, provision has been made for a new Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) with a maximum payment of €5,000 per farmer. This will accommodate people leaving the REPS 3 Scheme. The maximum payment of €5,000 is considerably larger than that indicated earlier in the year, and this will be a major relief to farmers. Also, despite recommendations made in the McCarthy Report, there is no further cut in Headage Payments and the Suckler Cow Scheme has been maintained. The total provision for these programmes is €550m for 2010.
Education
The decision has been taken to maintain small rural schools and there will be no change in the pupil/teacher ratio.
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Despite proposals in the McCarthy Report to cease the CLÁR Scheme, this scheme is being maintained. Increased funding has also been provided for the LEADER programme and a total of €111m has been provided for rural development in 2010, compared to an estimate of €102m in 2009.
Issued by the Press & Information Office of the Dept. of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
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