Sinn Féin general election candidate Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness has said that Sinn Féin’s ambitious plans for rural Ireland are based on balanced regional development and on unlocking the substantial economic capacity that exists within our rural communities. He added that a Sinn Féin led government will stand up for rural Ireland and develop the critical infrastructure, services and supports for farmers, businesses, and workers that is badly needed.
Cllr Conor D. McGuinness said:
“Sinn Féin has an ambitious plan to develop regional Ireland, unlocking its substantial economic capacity. However, this requires a substantial increase in housing and infrastructure across the country.
“It requires investing in services such as healthcare and childcare, and it means enterprise policies that will attract high-skilled employment to rural Ireland.
“It means accelerating the delivery of the National Broadband Plan to increase connectivity of rural Ireland.
“For family farmers, Sinn Féin will increase agriculture spending by €279 million, deliver a €350 suckler payment per calf/cow, increase sheep welfare payments to €40 per ewe, and increase ANC funding by €75 million. Fine Gael are proposing to spend €192 million less than Sinn Féin when it comes to agriculture, and have refused to increase ANC funding.
“These are all vital aspects of regional and rural development on which Fine Gael have failed to deliver, so we can’t believe their promises now.
“In government, Sinn Féin will stand up for rural Ireland and develop the critical infrastructure, services and supports for farmers, businesses, and workers that is badly needed.”
“Contrast this with threadbare document released by Fine Gael this week. It lacks any credibility when you consider that Fine Gael has spent the last 14 years attacking rural Ireland. They will need to do better than recycling old promises that have yet to materialise despite 14 years in power.
“The impact of Fine Gael’s policies in relation to carbon tax and excise duties hikes have had a punitive effect on rural communities who have no choice but to use cars to get to the shops, to bring their children to school and to go to work.
“Fine Gael is refusing to adopt a 9% vat rate for the non-accommodation hospitality sector. This sector is a hugely important employer in the regions and small cafes, pubs, restaurants will continue closing without a 9% Vat rate.
“Fine Gael has done nothing to protect the family farm model. Given the critical role that agriculture plays in rural economies, and the paltry supports which Fine Gael are offering family farmers, it’s hard to believe they really care at all about the economic wellbeing of rural Ireland. They have also completely failed to deal with the issue of the ‘Forgotten Farmers’.
“In government they have abjectly failed to create a balanced economy.
“They have made promises of investment and regional development time and time again but have failed to deliver. We see these right across the towns and villages of rural Ireland.
“The only way to get a new government, with fresh ideas and clear plans is to vote Sinn Féin.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 