VFI welcomes Local Area Hackney Licence proposal
The plight of rural Ireland has been the cause of much debate for some time now with local amenities coming under constant threat with Garda stations, post offices, pubs and now schools closing at an alarming rate, stated the Federation.
Rural transport, or the lack thereof, is a major issue but the VFI has warmly welcomed the approval by Cabinet of Minster Alan Kelly’s report.
“We welcome the proposal in particular with regard to a Local Area Hackney License and we feel that such a move would certainly help alleviate some of the problems of rural isolation affecting so many of the older community in rural Ireland for whom walking to the local village is not an option for a variety of reasons,” the VFI stated, “It will make for an easier entry to the hackney market on a local basis yet will ensure that the system will not be abused by those involved.
“The proposal now needs to be implemented as soon as possible. This innovative proposal by Minister Kelly is but a stepping-stone and we would now like to see the Government tackling further issues affecting both our trade and the rural community,” the Federation concluded.
