Is a Voluntary, Independent, Non-Party Political Body with Charitable Status Established

17thDecember 2015

I write to you as Chairman of Council for the West (“The Council”). By way of introduction, “The Council”

is a voluntary, independent, non-party political body with Charitable status established in 1994 to combat

the decline in population and services in rural areas of the West of Ireland. It was set up by the Western

Bishops arising out of a Report entitled “Crusade for Survival”.

Its membership is comprised of voluntary, non-remunerated persons including representatives from the

main Churches as well as business and community groups.

The Council is concerned with major social and economic issues affecting the development of the Counties in

the region: Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare.

I write to you at this time in the context of a submission which The Council made to the Commission for

the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA), and the subsequent Report of CEDRA which was

delivered to Government towards the end of 2013. Delivery of the Report was followed by the appointment

of Ms. Anne Phelan T.D. as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and

the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for Rural Economic Development.

Whilst the Council acknowledges the work of Ms. Phelan since her appointment, we are of the view that

the Government’s response to the CEDRA Report and the shortcomings in rural development highlighted

therein, is structurally inadequate.

The absolute need for equality of treatment for rural areas was at the core of the Council’s submission to

CEDRA. Balanced regional development is not about pitting West against East or Rural against Urban- rather

it is about ensuring equality of opportunity and investment throughout all regions of the country for the

betterment of the Nation as a whole.

As we emerge from recession, a two-track economic recovery, with rural areas lagging behind, is already a

reality and unless urgently addressed will result in irreversible regional imbalance, especially in areas that lack

larger population centres that can act as magnets for capital investment.

Next year we commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising. It is, therefore, timely to remember that

the Proclamation of the IrishRepublic states that “The Republic guarantees…equal rights and equal

opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole

Nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the Nation equally…” The concept of balanced

regional development is, therefore, not merely some vague modern notion or woolly aspiration- rather

it is a national political and social imperative, mandated by the title deed of this Republic.

Council for the West, Killala Business Park, Killala, Co. Mayo. Tel: 096 32975, E-mail: , Web: Charitable Status No.: CHY 10724, Developing the West Together Limited Registered No.: 197197

Members:Chairman: Declan O’Callaghan Treasurer: Ray O’Donoghue Secretary: Michael McGarriglePRO:Liam Horan, Neville Bagnall, John Connolly, Micheal Frain, Most Rev. Bishop John Fleming, Mike Hogan, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Jones, Diarmaid Mulcahy, Seamus Rodgers, Sean Sweeney.

Co-ordinator: Caroline Wilson. Patrons: Most Rev. Bishop Philip Boyce, Most Rev. Bishop Kevin Doran, Most Rev. Bishop Martin Drennan, Most Rev. Bishop John Fleming, Most Rev. Bishop Brendan Kelly, Most Rev. Bishop John Kirby, Most Rev. Archbishop Michael Neary, Most Rev. Bishop Colm O’Reilly, Most Rev. Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Most Rev.Bishop Kieran O'Reilly, Right Rev. Patrick Rooke

In this context the Council’s submission to CEDRA contained four central demands. Firstly, we called for

the establishment of a full Government Department of Rural Affairs. Secondly, we sought the introduction

of a form of Equality Assessment for all national legislation to ensure same does not impact negatively on

rural areas. Thirdly, we called for greater investment, for example, through increased capitalisation of

the Investment Fund of the Western Development Commission. Fourthly, we sought effective Evaluation

and Monitoring procedures to ensure the CEDRA Report is actually implemented and not left to gather dust

on shelves like so many previous documents.

The validity of these demands was acknowledged in the CEDRA Report but not all of them were reflected in

the list of recommendations. We continue to hold the view that the creation of a full Department of Rural

Affairs is absolutely essential in this context.

The rationale behind this is that we are convinced there is a need for a fundamental paradigm shift in

regional development policy formulation and delivery at Executive level. For too long the official attitude to

this issue could be described as one of benign indifference. This is no longer tolerable. We now require a

more focussed, planned and purposive approach on an ongoing and structured basis. A permanent seat at

the Cabinet table is necessary in order to achieve this.

Our Constitution allows for the appointment of up to 15 Cabinet Ministers. Surely the survival and future

viability of rural Ireland is one of the 15 most important issues facing this country and so merits a full and

dedicated Government Department in its own right.

This proposal was discussed at a Regional Development Conference organised by the Council for the West

which took place at the Northern and Western Regional Assembly building at Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon

on 17th July last. The Conference featured contributions from a number of experts on regional development with the keynote speaker being Ms. Anne Phelan T.D., Minister for Rural Affairs. The Council’s call for a dedicated Department of Rural Affairs received widespread support at the Conference.

It is also noteworthy that the Government’s recently launched “Action Plan for Jobs 2015 – 2017 – West Region” highlights the importance for reform at national and regional level in order to facilitate “the emergence of

stronger policy frameworks to underpin sectoral opportunities …” so as to maximize potential for job creation

and employment opportunity in that region. The establishment of a Department of Rural Affairs would of

course facilitate the creation of such policy frameworks at a national level.

In view of the importance of this issue at this critical time in our national recovery, the Council has decided

to communicate with the Leaders of all political parties in order to invite support for this demand for creation

of a full Department of Rural Affairs within the lifetime of the next Government. On behalf of the Council,

I therefore invite and strongly urge you to confirm your party’s commitment in this regard and to further

commit that this policy proposal will be incorporated in your party’s pre-election Manifesto and in any

programme for Government involving your party following upon the forthcoming General Election.

Should this commitment be forthcoming from your party, the Council undertakes to publicly acknowledge

such commitment once it is received. A full copy of the Council’s submission to CEDRA can be viewed

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

______

Declan O’Callaghan

Chairman

Council for the West

Council for the West, Killala Business Park, Killala, Co. Mayo. Tel: 096 32975, E-mail: , Web: Charitable Status No.: CHY 10724, Developing the West Together Limited Registered No.: 197197