PEOPLE IN rural areas are subsidising urban dwellers by paying for public services, such as buses, that they cannot access, according to Irish Rural Link.
The same could be said about amenities such as libraries and public swimming pools, the organisation, which represents 300 rural-based community groups, said in its pre-budget submission.
The organisation’s chief executive Séamus Boland said the budget must take into account the disproportionate burden of social welfare cuts and carbon levies on rural dwellers compared to their urban counterparts.
Irish Rural Link was calling on the Government to maintain essential rural incomes and services and to introduce measures to stimulate local rural economies in a sustainable manner. He said the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice had shown that households in rural areas faced a severe shortfall in meeting essential living costs.
The organisation’s policy and communications officer, Helen Dunne, said that in addition to poverty in rural households, rural communities found themselves in a vulnerable position where vital community services and enterprises were under serious threat.
“Our wealthiest regions receive massive investment, both public and private,” Ms Dunne said. “Rural areas are not looking for handouts, just a similar level of investment.”