*Labasheeda. Photograph: Páraic McMahon

Work is underway on a pilot resettlement scheme that will entice more people to live in rural parts of Co Clare.

‘Opt rural’ is currently in the planning stages, Clare County Council intends to submit an application under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to secure funding for the initiative.

Senior executive officer in the Rural Development Directorate, Monica Meehan outlined, “The proposal will in the first instance focus on quality housing opportunities with a mandatory precondition that the property be the primary permanent place of residence of the family. The premise of the scheme which is in development is to encourage households to set up permanent places of residence in rural communities by promoting opportunity and benefits of rural living.

“Factors such as the provision of broadband and matching skilled employees with employers will also need to be considered. The initial focus will be a pilot project, however, if successful the model can be rolled out in other towns/villages experiencing population decline”.

Her comments came in response to a motion from Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who called on the local authority to investigate the possibility of commencing a rural resettlement pilot. The Lisdoonvarna man was very pleased to hear the Council were “ahead of the game”. “The spirit of this motion is that we are brave and ambitious particularly with rural development”. He praised the leadership shown by officials but requested for councillors to be involved “a bit more in the process”.

“It is testament to the Council that this is the sort of stuff we are putting on the table for discussion. We have a significant amount of Council owned property,” Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) outlined. “Rural regeneration is about bringing people back into properties”.

He stressed the importance of services to rural communities and told the meeting of a growing trend developing in South West Clare. “We are seeing people moving from Carrigaholt and Doonaha into Lissycasey, they want the rural lifestyle but they want to be close to services, we have to tackle that”.

Related News

burren stone walls 1
Two-day event celebrates tradition dry stone walling which has shaped The Burren
clare gaa convention 12-12-19 18 niall gilligan
All-Ireland winner Gilligan pleads not guilty to assault of boy with a stick
murt mcinerney 2
'He is a huge loss to Doonbeg, West Clare & his family' - councillors adjourn July meeting in respect to Murt McInerney
connolly 1
Connolly development for community building gets green light

Advertisement

Latest News
connolly 1
Connolly development for community building gets green light
teresa roseingrave 1
Roseingrave resigns as Clare LGFA Chair with McMahon & Shannon also stepping down from Executive
ladies football trophy 1
Munster LGFA intervene to postpone adjourned Clare LGFA meeting
ronan collins 1-2
Ronan Collins recalls Clare show band scene ahead of Scariff Harbour Festival performance
valentines card 1
Five year Safety Order granted to Clare woman after Valentines Day card arrives from Limerick prison inmate
Premium
valentines card 1
Five year Safety Order granted to Clare woman after Valentines Day card arrives from Limerick prison inmate
1 DSC_2001
Next step for Clare camogie is returning to quarter-finals says Carmody
clare lgfa football 1
Adjourned Clare LGFA meeting to go ahead after breach of confidential correspondence investigated
clare v limerick 02-03-25 brian lohan 1
Lohan: early indicators positive on all experienced Clare players returning & wide net will be cast during club campaign
knockanean school
Council take wide berth on request to widen road leading to Knockanean NS

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement