Oireachtas committee to meet representatives of Castlepollard

The Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is to study the needs of Castlepollard as part of hearings on sustaining rural communities.

A delegation from the committee will meet representatives from Castlepollard and Athboy tomorrow Friday, May 26.

The meeting is part of its two projects: How to sustain a viable rural community and The future of community, social and economic development and cooperation in border counties.

The committee will host a meeting in the Lawrence Hotel in Athboy, from 9am to noon on Friday.

The following persons and groups have been invited to attend this discussion:

Meath and Westmeath Job Clubs; Kells and District, Chamber of Commerce and Mullingar Chamber of Commerce; Athboy Community Development Group and Westmeath Community Development Group; Meath and Westmeath Local Enterprise Offices; Public representatives for the Athboy, and the Castlepollard areas; and officials of Meath and Westmeath County Councils.

The meeting will begin with an introduction from Peadar Tóibín, TD, the cathaoirleach of the committee, who will outline the objectives of the committee in its project ‘What it takes to sustain a viable rural community’ and how this is applicable in the Athboy and Castlepollard areas.

Each of the groups and each public representative in attendance will then be asked to make five-minute contributions. This will be followed by a general discussion.

Deputy Tóibín said: “Many parts of rural Ireland face ongoing challenges in terms of declining populations, a lack of jobs, a shortage of enterprise and poor infrastructure.

“Athboy and Castlepollard are great towns with much going for them. But they are not getting the necessary investment with regards transportation, communication and jobs.

“As we continue to focus on what it takes to sustain a viable rural community, it is important that we meet people on the ground in their communities to get their perspectives on the key issues facing rural Ireland.

“It is hoped that these meetings will provide a practical and hands-on aspect to the committee’s current projects ‘What it takes to sustain a viable rural community’ and ‘The future of community, social and economic development and cooperation in border counties’ and that it will facilitate the committee in including local on-the-ground evidence gathered from two rural communities.”

Committee Membership:

Deputies

Peadar Tóibín (Chairman) Sinn Féin

Ciaran Cannon Fine Gael

Michael Collins Rural Independents Group

Danny Healy Rae Rural Independents Group

Martin Heydon Fine Gael

Éamon Ó Cuív Fianna Fáil

Niamh Smyth Fianna Fáil

Senators

Maura Hopkins Fine Gael

Marie-Louise O’Donnell Independent

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Labour

Fintan Warfield Sinn Féin