A COMMITMENT to a new policy of decentralising government departments and State agencies needed to be made to invigorate rural areas, Fianna Fáil spokesman on Agriculture, Food and Community Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said at the Merriman Summer School at the weekend.
Although decentralisation had come in for much criticism, he said, he had seen some decentralised sections of departments work more efficiently than centralised ones.
Decentralisation could be carried out again on a more organised and incremental fashion over a longer period, he said.
Decentralised offices had lower staff turnover, saved money on property expenses and ensured economic growth in areas that would otherwise not attract industry, achieving balanced regional development.
“I believe that the current Government should continue with a targeted programme of decentralisation,” he said.
Rural areas were important to the nation and were a major contributor to Irish society. Rural development was important for social cohesion “Unfortunately, urban areas tend to be socially segregated and in my view that is a great ill in our society. Having grown up in Dublin and come to live in Cornamona, I have come to appreciate the strength of community life,” he said.
Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness, who also spoke at the summer school, said there was more to rural Ireland than septic tanks and turf-cutting rows. In a globalised world, there was no room for a “they are for us or they are against us” mentality.
At the closing session of the school yesterday, Druid Theatre director Garry Hynes launched the Merriman Short Story Competition, dedicated to the memory of the late Maeve Binchy, who provided the €1,000 prize fund. The closing date for entries is October 31st, 2012. Details at merriman.ie.