Limerick Macra members march to Merrion Square
LIMERICK MACRA members were due to arrive at Government Buildings in Merrion Square this Wednesday afternoon after marching 79kms through the night from Athy in Co Kildare.
Macra, which will be shortly led by president-elect Elaine Houlihan from Athlacca, picked Athy as that is where the organisation was founded in 1944.
Ms Houlihan said: “We are taking steps for our future, to ensure young people, families can live and prosper in rural Ireland as the youth are the backbone of these communities”.
Outgoing Macra president John Keane said: “Our message is clear, we want a future in rural Ireland, we want our rural communities to survive and thrive into the future. We are walking for the future of our local communities”.
Macra has eight key issues:
1. Accessing affordable housing and cumbersome housing planning guidelines.
2. Disjointed and sparse healthcare services for rural communities.
3. The Governments definition of a family farm as ‘average’ and ‘typical’.
4. No recognition or engagement by Government on a farming succession scheme.
5. Lack of planning for the future of our rural communities informed by rural people.
6. Imposition of quotas on young farmers availing of grant aid support.
7. Lack of public transport for rural Ireland.
8. Proposals to rewet large areas.