Longford-Westmeath Labour TD Willie Penrose and Kerry independent Michael Healy-Rae told the Irish Farmers Journal this Wednesday that the ever increasing rural and urban gap has become a prominent issue in continuing discussions with the main political parties.

“Whoever will form the next government, whether it is Fianna Fail, Fine Gael or a minority government or whoever it is - at least everybody is agreeing that it is vitally important that their will be a Minister for Rural Affairs,” said Healy-Rae. “The importance of that is to rural-proof issues, whether it is environmental issues, whether it is financial issues or even health issues”, he added.

On the previous government, Healy Rae believes they paid the price for neglecting the rural community: “They lost touch; any time you lose touch with your roots and with the people in the countryside, you are in trouble”.

There are too many cross government agencies and departments dealing with rural issues.

Willie Penrose believes a centralised department is vital to reduce the growing gap between rural and urban parts of Ireland.

“There are too many cross government agencies and departments dealing with rural issues. What we need to do is bring that under an umbrella department,” Penrose said. “Concentrate resources there, that gives a better overview and strategy can be focused coming from one department,” he added.

Listen to Michael Healy-Rae and Willie Penrose in our podcast below:

Penrose says funding from the government is crucial if this is new department is to work efficiently.

“It is no use setting up talking shops and forums, what you need to do is set up a department and give it a budget, a significant budget,” he said. “You can establish a department but you can strangle it at birth by very simply denying it the resources necessary”.

Talks between parties are expected to continue for the next few weeks.

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