The prospects of tax breaks for those living along the upper Shannon, similar to those available in urban renewal schemes, has sparked off a geographical debate along the river.
The scheme was signalled by the Minister for Finance in the Budget but as yet there is no great flesh on the bones of the idea to promote rural development. The details which have emerged are not to the liking of everyone in the midlands. It appears the Government has defined the up per Shannon in very strict terms.
It seems to want to limit the tax breaks to an area north of Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, in a scheme which would take in all that county and parts of Roscommon, Sligo and west Cavan. The people of the midlands, however, who suffer and gain most from the river, feel the upper Shannon should include all areas north of Athlone, Co Westmeath.
That view is articulated most strongly by the Irish Farmers' Association which has made a submission to the Government for the inclusion of the midlands. It has argued that such a scheme would be of great benefit to rural people living along the banks of the river and would help those rural dwellers on small incomes survive and remain. Gerry Gunning of the IFA says it envisages a mix of rural tourism schemes with tax breaks for people upgrading houses as being the beneficiaries of the scheme. "We have also argued that greater incentives for farmers in the region to join the Rural Environment Protection Scheme would provide a major boost for the water quality of the river." The Rural Environment Protection Scheme is an EU-funded programme under which farmers enter an agreement with the Department of Agriculture to farm in an environmentally sensitive way by reducing the levels of farm fertilisers, reducing stocking levels and tidying up their farms generally.
While thousands of farmers have already joined the scheme which was part of the last round of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the IFA says others could be enticed to take part under the proposed upper Shannon tax incentive scheme.
Rural development and methods of keeping people in rural Ireland is the subject of a seminar in Athlone next Wednesday.
"Small-holder Households - a Survival Strategy" has been organised by Area Development Management Ltd, an independent intermediary company designated by the Government and the European Commission to support integrated local economic and social development.
It has responsibility for the overall management of the operational programme for local urban and rural development - integrated development of designated disadvantaged and other areas, more commonly called the local development programme.
The seminar, in the Hudson Bay Hotel, will identify the smallholder issues and try to provide an area-based response which will seek to influence future rural development policy. Groups attending, which will include partnership community groups, farming organisations and statutory bodies, will discuss issues which are primarily based on the plight of low-income people.
Partnership groups have already proven their worth and have placed thousands of unemployed people in full and part-time jobs, supported successful business start-ups and provided training and education for thousands more people in communities across the State.
A further seminar will be held in Athlone on March 24th to report on progress. This too has been organised by the Rural Development Working Group on behalf of ADM Ltd.