Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD has condemned the draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 which he says shows the Government’s intention to “squeeze the life out of disadvantage areas, once and for all.”
The Kerry Independent TD made his comments following on from research presented at a recent meeting of South Kerry Development Partnership outlining the continual decline in funding over recent years.
Attacking the Leader
“The new plan, up to the end of 2027, is simply an attack on the Leader programme which has been vital life support to rural disadvantage areas over a number of years now. However, with massive plans to substantially reduce funds, Rural Ireland will once again face the brunt of reductions with many proposed and continuing projects now uncertain.” Deputy Healy Rae said.
“In the period 2007 – 2013, LEADER funding was €85 million each year. In 2016 – 2020 it was €50 million each year but now it is proposed that €35 million annually for 2023 – 2027 will have to suffice.
Less Jobs, Fewer Enterprises
“The paltry financial allocation will mean less employment and even fewer enterprises benefiting in Kerry with the real possibility of the Rural Social Scheme being wrapped up.”
Deputy Healy Rae has already called on the Government to look again at the draft plan and find a way to increase the allocations.
Look at the Small Print
“It is vital that Government takes the time to look at the small print in this. They might feel that by slashing funds they are making a saving but if they don’t support many vital projects we will see no more walk schemes, no more community activation programmes and in time probably no more rural Ireland at all.”
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