A nationwide consultation on issues facing young people in rural Ireland and how to overcome these challenges has been launched by Macra na Feirme.

Macra’s rural youth committee announced the undertaking in the wake of a report which found rural towns in Ireland were suffering from a long, drawn out decline.

Chair of the Macra rural youth committee Ger Mahon said the consultation would help gain a better understanding of how members viewed life outside urban zones.

He said; “Rural Ireland can and will thrive again but only if we are given the opportunities and incentives to make it happen. Continuous investment will play a major role in that, but the investment must be strategic in order to be effective.”

Oppurtunities

Macra na Feirme president James Healy added to those comments, saying the consultation would discuss challenges, but also opportunities.

“Macra na Feirme represents the young people of rural Ireland, and they must be given the opportunity and resources to allow them to bring a vibrancy and dynamism to the future of rural Ireland,” Healy said.

Mahon said it was no surprise to see a report highlighting that rural Ireland had been forgotten about in terms of economic growth.

“In a technological era, broadband plays a pivotal role in economic prosperity and is key to the future development of any business. However, the fact that broadband along with other strategic infrastructure continues to be a luxury of urban classes only serves to provide further reason for those in rural Ireland to feel left behind."

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