A Government minister yesterday suggested that what he termed "the permanent government", the civil service, was only now coming to grips with the fact that the world was not totally Dublin-orientated.
Mr Frank Fahey, Minister of State for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said that in his 23 years in the Dáil there was a constant fight to promote rural Ireland.
"I believe that in recent times with the bishops, the Western Development body and people like yourselves, we are beginning to play on a more even pitch," he told the Irish Rural Link (IRL) conference in Portumna.
Mr Fahey had earlier told the delegates who represent over 300 community groups in rural Ireland that he favoured one-off housing in rural areas as long as there was no threat to the local environment.
Ms Emer Ó Siochrú, an eco and community architect, said that once land around a village was designated as development land, it dramatically increased the value of that land and the land around it.
"However, there is no taxation policy on land in this country and I know there are developers buying up designated lands in rural parts of the country to take advantage of that tax situation," she said.
The national co-ordinator of IRL, Mr Séamus Boland, said rural communities were continuing to be undermined by the lack of action and finance on behalf of the national and local government and various State agencies.
He said that time and time again rural communities were portrayed as dragging the rest of the country back.
The chairman of the organisation, Mr Anthony Leavy, reiterated the demands made by the umbrella organisation in its pre-Budget submission seeking well-balanced regional development.
He said to revitalise rural Ireland a rural housing commission should be set up, stamp duty should be removed from first-time buyers and the first-time buyer's grant should be reintroduced.
He called for a major extension to the Rural Social Scheme, a major school building programme, affordable childcare and free fees for part-time courses.
On health, a rural task force was necessary for those living in remote areas, and he said an appropriate level of 24-hour emergency cover was necessary.
The conference continues today.