An Taoiseach launching new plan for rural Ireland

AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny is today launching 'Realising our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development'.

Every county in rural Ireland will benefit from the blueprint which proposed 275 different actions.

They included support the creation of 135,000 new jobs by 2020, protect vital local services, development of primary care sector, support for rural post office network, access to schools for rural children, support 4,000 new community projects, boost tourism by increasing overseas visitors by 12%, invest over €50 million in sports, recreation and cultural facilities, revitalise over 600 towns and villages, ensure all homes and businesses are connected to broadband and doubling investment in flood relief works by 2021.

Described as the most comprehensive plan for rural Ireland in years, the plan places a major focus on protecting rural schools as well as tackling commercial rate bills that are crippling small businesses.

Some 90 new public nursing home facilities and 18 primary care centres are to be established, while the government has also pledged a grant scheme for CCTV and personal alarms for the elderly.

There will be new rules to ensure no small school closes against the wishes of parents.

More amalgamations have been signalled in order to prevent schools closing due to capacity.

And there are new guidelines introduced to allow school buildings to be used for community purposes after school hours.

The rolling-out of a new rural public banking system will be considered while significant changes to the rates system will be introduced.

Local authorities will introduce a new 'rates alleviation scheme', in conjunction with moves to re-evaluate rates in nine rural counties.