THE rural development function at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry should be enhanced to develop more effective co ordination and delivery of policies, a report recommends.
This is a key recommendation of the report of the National Economic and Social Forum, Rural Renewal, Combating Social Exclusion, which was published yesterday.
The second of the three key recommendations made in the report is that a standing committee for rural development should be set up and the report also calls for the publication of a White Paper on rural development.
The report, which takes an in depth look at social exclusion in rural areas, and defines the concept of social inclusion, highlights the need for a vision of an overall strategic framework for the development of rural Ireland to ensure the inclusion of all sections of the community.
The report also outlines the extent and impact of rural social exclusion. A key findings concerns the lack of awareness of rural poverty because it is dispersed and hidden.
It found that land ownership disguises a very disadvantaged farm structure; those living in open countryside, towns and villages are at greater risk of poverty and exclusion.
It also found that deprivation is most prevalent in the West and in the Border counties and that common features experienced by vulnerable groups are lack of transport, access to information services, training and employment opportunities.
The report also put forward detailed recommendations to alleviate the adverse impact of policies in rural areas, including measures to halt consistent population decline.
It recommends agriculture and forestry need continuing support and provision of on farm and off farm opportunities for small farmers, and consultation with local communities on forestry issues.
The recommendations also cover the need of industry and services and says the benefits from tourism should be maximised to benefit local communities.
It advocates advice and technical assistance for low income households and says there should be greater use of school buses, and investment in rural transport services.
On housing, the report says poor housing should be improved and a targeted refurbishment programme initiated.
On EU Structural Funding the report calls for a mid term review to set out equality objectives with performance indicators and measures to achieve these objectives.
On health, the report says community based strategies in partnership with local community groups should be pursued and in education there should be a multifaceted response to the needs of disadvantaged children.
The report also recommends improvements in the availability and quality of training and work experience programmes and the development of the social economy.
The report also suggests an improved telephone installation scheme for the elderly and its extension to other vulnerable groups.
At the launch of the report yesterday, the chairwoman of the National Economic and Social Forum, Ms Maureen Gaffney, stressed the importance of the report as 40 per cent of the population lives in rural areas.
She said the gap between the rich and poor in rural areas, the rich farmers and the poor farmers, was getting wider and the time had come to address this.
She said most people did not realise that only one third of the people living in rural Ireland depended on farming and that 10 per cent were unemployed.
The Irish Farmers Association last night called on the Government to respond immediately to the report's new approaches to tackling rural poverty and exclusion.