Tyrone folk urged to speak out on rural policy

THE North’s Rural Affairs Minister has launched a public consultation on the North’s first-ever Rural Policy Framework during a visit to Tyrone.

The framework, as outlined by Edwin Poots, aims to create a sustainable rural community where people want to live, work and be active.

He launched the consultation during a number of visits to local rural dwellers and projects, including the Tyrone Old Brick Factory, Dungannon, the Mid-Ulster Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Coalisland and Loughry College in Cookstown.

Mr Poots said, “Around 36 per-cent of people in Northern Ireland live in a rural setting. The sector is vital to our economy, with around 60 per-cent of our VAT/PAYE registered businesses located there and around 20 per-cent of our employee jobs in rural businesses.

“The businesses and projects I’ve visited are testimony to the innovation, resilience and drive we see across this sector. It’s therefore so important that we protect, encourage and enhance rural communities to ensure their long-term sustainability.”

Mr Poots said people living in rural communities faced “particular challenges”, such as reduced connectivity, poorer health, lack of access to employment and inferior infrastructure.

There will be a number of online webinars through the period of the consultation and these will be open to all members of the public.

Mr Poots added, “This is a significant and important piece of work that has involved a wide range of stakeholders in its development. The framework aims to identify the needs and opportunities of our rural dwellers going forward over the next seven years.”

The consultation will run through the CitizenSpace website until September 6.