'Revitalising Rural Ireland' plan hailed as 'transformative' by General Election candidate in Offaly

FIANNA FAIL'S plan to invest further in rural Ireland will be "transformative".

That's according to one of the party's General Election candidate in Offaly, Cllr Tony McCormack who is the current Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council.

The party has set out through a series of measures its plan to take rural Ireland forward including:

* The establishment of a new Towns Investment Fund of €2bn to build and upgrade infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity.

* A dedicated Rural and Provincial Crime Unit

* Expanded educational access

*Increased roads funding and a road maintenance catch-up programme

*An increase of €10,000 to both the vacant and derelict property grant and their extension to farm buildings alongside extended and enhanced Help-to-Buy and First Home Scheme for self-builds

*New Community Health Networks and an expanded Community care programme to support older people

Tullamore based Cllr McCormack said: “Fianna Fáil in Government has prioritised helping rural communities to thrive and now we want to take it even further.

“These ambitious plans will focus on fostering our local economy, improving our infrastructure and enhancing quality of life in general, making Offaly an even better place to live, to work, to visit and to invest in.

“Under Fianna Fáil the rural right to build will be upheld with supports for self-builders such as the Help-to-Buy and the First Home Scheme expanded. The vacant and derelict property grants will also be increased meaning you will be able to get €60,000 to

refurbish a vacant home and €80,000 if it is derelict.

“Offaly will benefit from a €2BN Towns Investment Fund which we will use to upgrade our roads, our water and wastewater services and to ensure a robust electricity grid both now and into the future.

“A dedicated rural crime unit will ensure people feel safe in their homes while our plans to increase the number of Gardaí by 5,000 will benefit every part of Ireland.

“And our school children will benefit from our expanded and cheaper school transport service while their schools will benefit from increased capitation funding.

“Funding for a major expansion of GP services, pharmacy services and new Community Health Networks alongside an expanded Community care programme to support older people will ensure that the need to travel for healthcare will be greatly reduced alongside the

associated financial burden.

“It’s clear to see that Fianna Fáil has a vision for Rural Ireland, but more than that we have an ambitious and achievable plan,” he concluded.