Presentation to the Irish Planning Institute on "What Rural Communities Want From Planners" - IPI Conference 15-15th April, Tullamore

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Irish Rural Link (IRL)  has published its critique of the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.

The document, titled “Let Them Eat Cake: What the An Bord Snip Nua Report Means for Rural & Regional Development”, begins with an examination of the Report’s implications for the rural population and economy. This is followed by an analysis by each Department and an examination of cross cutting issues.

An Appendix presents case studies of typical rural households, showing how the report’s recommendations will cumulatively impact on them.

It concludes with a “Rural and Regional Impact Matrix” which illustrates how recommendations will undermine the economic, environmental and social development of rural communities.

A pdf version of the report is available to download here

A word version is available here

In light of recent Bus Eireann the publication of the Citizens Information Board's report Getting There: Transport and Access to Social Services is particularly timely. The report highlights how the lack of adequate public transport is one of the major factors contributing to social exclusion in rural areas – impacting significantly on “people’s ability to access services necessary for daily living or health and social services, or to pursue education or attend training courses or work/training opportunities.” An executive summary is available here .

Irish Rural Link’s vision for rural transport is available in our report Towards a Sustainable Rural Transport Policy. An executive summary can be found here .

A list of Bus Eireann cuts which came into effect in February 2010 is available here. A list of route cuts effective from 28th March 2010 is available here .

Click here for a list of EDs in each counties where broadband is currently available under the National Broadband Scheme

Maps of NBS areas by county are available here

Rural consumers encouraged to avail of guaranteed broadband in 15 days under NBS  (Press Release)