Thomas Pringle TD
Home / Dáil Debates / Leaders’ Questions: Pringle attacks Coalition’s record in Donegal

Leaders’ Questions: Pringle attacks Coalition’s record in Donegal

Thomas Attacks Government ‘anti-rural’ record in Donegal

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Pringle attacked the Government’s record in Donegal highlighting increases in fuel and food poverty in the county and blaming it on what he calls are ‘anti-rural policies’ of the coalition.

‘An astonishing 31,000 people in the county now suffer from fuel poverty. That’s up 10,000 from the previous year and in addition to the 18,000 who suffer from food poverty according to a 2013 poll’ explains Pringle. ‘I think the coalition need to take a closer look to see the real consequences of their anti-rural policies.’

‘Waiting lists at Letterkenny University Hospital have soared by 70% for out-patient and 50% for day case appointments and 16,241 people are now on the live register. Meanwhile up to 20,000 young people have emigrated in search for work. The Coalition can’t be proud of its work in rural Ireland to date’ says Pringle.

‘My real concern is the increase in income inequality in Ireland. In the case of Donegal, only 8 out of 149 Electoral Divisions are above the national average of deprivation indicators and disposable income is at 80% the national average’ continues Pringle.

‘I have advocated time and time again for a Donegal-focus in the regional Action Plan for Jobs, a prioritisation of broadband roll out to rural and remote areas and investment in biomass to create rural-friendly jobs. 52% of households in Donegal will have to rely on state intervention to get broadband and could have to wait until 2021 under their government’s plan. Donegal can’t afford to wait that long.’

‘The Tánaiste response to fuel poverty was to praise the low oil prices and the effects the exchange rate will have on tourism in the area. My answer to that was oil and exchange rates are out of the Government’s control and changes to these will make Ireland very vulnerable to market changes’ concludes Pringle.

ENDS

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