Independent TD Tom Fleming has called for the inclusion of a specialised rural policy in any future programme for government.

"This has not been done to date, and the approach has been a bit scattered and fragmented,'' said the Kerry South TD, who was the Technical Group's representative at Opposition Leaders' Questions.

Mr Fleming said Richard Curran's documentary on RTÉ television on Monday night had depicted the plight of rural areas and was aptly titled The Battle for Rural Ireland.

The deputy said Save Rural Ireland, a new group of stakeholders with 100,000 members representing 1,200 community groups, had met TDs and Senators to express their views on rural Ireland's continuing demise. He said there was a need for a regional spread in job creation. "At present three-quarters of all jobs are going into Dublin and other principal cities,'' he added.

Mr Fleming said the Government needed to accelerate the roll-out of broadband and ensure the viability of post offices and other services. Some GP services in rural areas were being discontinued due to retirement and for other reasons, he said.

Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan, on the Government's behalf, said Labour TD Ann Phelan had been appointed Minister of State for Rural Affairs.

Ms O’Sullivan also said that the latest Government plan stressed the importance of ensuring jobs were created in rural Ireland.