Social Justice Ireland says the new government will face some key challenges in rural areas following the General Election.
The independent social justice think-tank has outlined what it sees as obstacles facing policymakers.
It wants to see people in rural communities have access to everyday services such as doctors, schools and pharmacies.
Michelle Murphy Research and Policy Analyst for the group says it’s important to make sure a balance is maintained between regions and communities; “In terms of what the new government can do we have to make sure investment is balanced between the regions and also within the regions as well, looking at the eastern part of the country in particular making sure we continue to roll out high-speed broadband across the country then looking in particular then I suppose at employment across the regions and the potential impacts of climate mitigation”.
She adds those living outside urban areas need access to vital everyday services, noting; “People living in rural communities can expect the same types of public services in terms of those in urban areas but they still should be able to access things like a GP, home help hours, childcare, be able to access a school, those are the things we’re laying out as people will be knocking on doors in the next number of weeks and these are the challenges a new Government will have to face and there are certainly solutions to the challenges”.
