The Rural Independent Group has announced the introduction of its Planning and Development Bill 2022. The bill aims to hold the government accountable for all actions taken under Project Ireland 2040, the group has said.
Ensuring that rural areas are not forgotten when it comes to delivery on key infrastructural project, and public services critical to their areas is of primary concern, the group said.
Speaking at a press conference to launch the bill at Leinster House today (Tuesday, February 15) the leader of the group, Deputy Mattie McGrath, said:
“Project Ireland 2040 will dictate where people live, work and have access to all public services for the next 20 years.”
This new bill would give Dáil Éireann the opportunity to have much greater input into rural and regional development in Ireland, according to the group.
Deputy McGrath and independent TD for Laois-Offaly, Carol Nolan, have stated that urgent state intervention is required to bring long-term employment, wealth and well-being into Ireland’s regional and rural areas.
“These communities have been disproportionately impacted in an adverse way by successive governments since the financial crash,” Deputy Nolan said.
Deputy McGrath further stated that opportunities for remote working due to the Covid-19 pandemic “must not be diminished”.
He added that strict planning restrictions on rural housing must also be reviewed.
Project Ireland 2040
The Dáil has been “completely side-lined” in terms of Project Ireland 2040 including the denial of people’s input into strategic policy and capital spending plans, according to Deputy McGrath.
The group believes it is essential that the Dáil and the public can contribute to, and can scrutinise progress made under, the plan, which comprises a €165 billion National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Planning Framework (NPF).
“After all, the €165 billion funding for the NDP is provided by the taxpayers and it appears strange that the government is denying the funders legitimate input,” according to Deputy McGrath.
The group leader said they are urging the government to stand with rural communities and to provide an opportunity to rebalance development with greater investment in smaller towns, regional towns and cities.
“We feel that democratic scrutiny of the new NDP element of Project Ireland 2040 is essential and, particularly post-pandemic, to ensure Ireland’s future economic prospects are balanced equally,” Deputy Nolan added.