Stringent new planning laws are threatening to remove the backbone of rural communities in the North, it was claimed tonight.
Following a meeting with the Ulster Council of the GAA, Sinn Finn MP Michelle Gildernew said her party shared the sports association concern that the planning laws could rob rural communities of a future generation and also undermine the future of many clubs.
The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: "I think our party and the GAA have very serious concerns about the British Government.
"It would be fair to also say that we both believe that it would be better if a locally elected ministers was in charge of the Department of the Environment, shaping planning policy.
"The policy put forward by the former minister Lord Rooker is essentially an English planning law which does not take into account the culture of Irish rural communities and it really isn't suitable."
Lord Rooker placed a moratorium on planning applications for single dwellings in the countryside, insisting a number being built was not just spoiling the landscape but also threatening the environment.
However his bid to dramatically slash the number of single cottages and bungalows has been criticised by Northern Ireland politicians and rural organisations.
The GAA has warned that it could also threaten clubs which play hurling, Gaelic football and camogie.
Ms Gildernew said after her party's meeting with the GAA Ulster Council's Danny Murphy that the rural community was being penalised for poor planning decisions.
"I think we accept that there was a need for a review of planning policy but the action taken by the British direct rule minister has been drastic," she said.
"Basically rural communities are being penalised for the poor decisions of the Planning Service in the past.
"The GAA is not placing much stock on pursuing a meeting with Lord Wooker's successor.
"But what this does is affect rural GAA clubs who are the backbone of their villages and town lands.
"If you take away the ability of young families to settle in the areas where they grew up and you force them into towns, that is bound to have an impact on rural clubs."