Action needed on planning to stop population decline

The planning regulations that are stopping young couples building in rural areas, combined with the failure to provide proper road infrastructure and job opportunities is causing the decline in population in North Mayo.

I am responding to census data published by the C.S.O. that showed a declining population in large areas of North Mayo and other rural areas in the county.

We have had a situation in this county, whereby the Planning Office, in Mayo County Council, has acted like God in the way it has shaped the living patterns in this county. Today’s CSO figures have shown us the shape of what it has achieved-a drop in population in large sections of rural Mayo-, especially in North Mayo.

The Planning Office has adopted a policy of stopping young couples building in rural areas, forcing them into larger towns where developers can charge what they like for a home. This ridiculous policy, combined with a total lack of any initiatives to provide real employment outside of our major towns and an appalling rural road network, has lead to this serious decline in our rural population.

A new government must overhaul this ridiculous policy of closing up rural Ireland, by actively encouraging, rather than hindering, the settlement of young families in our rural villages. This will take serious investment in roads, broadband and incentives to attract local businesses to expand so that viable employment opportunities become available to rural families.

“I will be calling for a review of current planning regulations if elected and I will insist that state monies be made available to assist in the regeneration of all areas affected by poor planning policies by our local authority, poor road investment and a total failure of our government representatives to fight for investment in areas like North Mayo

ends: Harry Barrett 087 9713268….see CSO figures in Irish Times