Communities in County Galway must unite and be vocal in their opposition to the Government’s austerity policies which will do nothing but “undermine the social fabric of our rural areas”.
This is the view of Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, who was speaking a recent public meeting, hosted by Sinn Féin Stormont agricultural minister Michelle O’Neill, in the Harbour Hotel.
Sen Ó Clochartaigh described the proposed septic tank charge as “an unfair and unjust measure that cruelly discriminates against those who live in a rural setting”. He said people have “not been fooled by the €5 registration fee announcement” as their main concerns relates to tank upgrading.
He said the State’s agricultural sector has been “devastated” following the €30 million cut to the disadvantaged areas scheme and the €20 million cut to the latest Rural Environment and Protection Scheme.
“Many small farmers struggle to maintain a living and our young people no longer see farming as a viable career option,” he said. “Instead they are forced to emigrate in search of employment abroad.”
However Sen Ó Clochartaigh said that despite the hardship being caused by the aforementioned cuts and taxes, the rural public must “remain active in our denouncement of such an anti-rural approach and argue for a more positive solution”.
One such solution was proposed by Minister Michelle O'Neill when she made the case for increased North/South co-operation. She said: “We as a nation have the potential to reap huge benefits through our agri-food sector and that our policy makers need to invest and develop our islands natural resources.”
