Committee Ready to Tackle Rural Issues in a Rural Setting

Rural proofing and rural development will top the agenda at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. The meeting will be held at the offices of the Rural Community Network (RCN) and the Rural Development Council (RDC) in Cookstown on 3 December.

Speaking before the visit, the Committee Chairman, Mr Ian Paisley Jnr said: “The Committee feels that it will benefit from meeting these two leading organisations as they look to get back to the grass roots on the key issues of Rural Proofing and Rural White Paper.

“We were pleased to accept an invitation from the Rural Community Network to visit their offices. Recently as a Committee we have been critical of the Department’s lack of progress in respect of rural proofing. This meeting in Cookstown will enable us to gain the informed views of both the RCN and the RDC.”

After the visit to RCN, and as part of its engagement programme, the Committee will go to see the Ballinderry River Fish Hatchery, a non-profit community business supported by the Rural Community Network.

ENDS