PRESS RELEASE

Deputy Billy Kelleher today claimed that there is an urgent need for Cork County Council to immediately review it’s planning policy.

The present difficulty in getting planning permission in rural Ireland is denuding the countryside of people. If there isn’t a reversal of the present policy this will have knock on effects, with potential school, shop and pub closures and a dismantling of village life.

It is imperative that the Council immediately rezones much needed land surrounding villages in rural Ireland.

If this policy were implemented it would encourage new people into the area to avail of cheaper site prices and allow the young local people stay in their area.

Villages like Watergrasshill, Knockraha, Grenagh, Glenville and Carrig na Bhfear would be ideally suited for extra development land as they area readily accessible to the city and there is good local services.

If the council’s present policy is not changed to encourage people to live in villages in rural Ireland then depopulation will not be reversed.