IRL Publications

Submissions

2023

Submission to Department of Social Protection Statement of Strategy 2023-2026 – Read more here

Submission to the National Risk Assessment 2023Read more here

2022

Pre-Budget Submission 2023 – Read more here

Input into European Semester Mission to Ireland – Read more here

Submission to Energy Poverty Action Plan Consultation – Read more here

Submission to Ireland’s New Forestry Strategy 2023-2030 and Implementation Plan 2023 – 2027 – Read more here

Submission to Retail Banking Review – Read more here

Submission to Clean Air Strategy – Read more here

Submission to the Digital Connectivity Strategy – Read more here

Submission to the EU Headline Poverty Target – Read more here

2020

Submission to All Island Strategic Rail Review – Read more here

2019

Submission to DRCD New Rural Development Policy 2020 – Read more here

Submission on Long-term Strategy on GHG Emissions – Read more here 

Pathways to Work Strategy – Read more here

National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland – Read more here

Pre Budget Submission 2020 – Read more here

Response to EU Commission Country Report – Read more here

Review of CSP – Read more here

Submission to Heritage Ireland 2030 – Read more here

Review of NAPInclusion 2007 – 2016 – Read more here

Consultation on Usage of Increased Carbon Tax Revenues – Read more here

Northern and Western Assembly DRAFT RSES – Read more here

2018

Irish Rural Link Budget 2019 Summary

Irish Rural Link have outlined some of the key measures announced in Budget 2019 in a summary document and how these measures will impact on people and communities in rural areas. A copy of the summary document is available to download here.

Irish Rural Link Pre-Budget Submission 2019

Irish Rural Link have made its Pre-Budget Submission 2019. Full submission available here

2016

Submission to Ireland’s Open Government Partnership Draft Action Plan 2016-2018 

Irish Rural Link welcomes the new National Action Plan on Open Government Partnership. Engaging with citizens in the development of Government policy, whether national or local, will give stronger policies and help those drafting the policies and strategies have a better understanding of what is happening on the ground and how a certain policy would impact on people’s day to day lives…full submission available here

Submission to Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare

People living in rural areas face many of the same difficulties in accessing healthcare, in particular for specialist services, and lack of available services but this can be exacerbated in rural areas by the lack of or limited availability of other necessary services, such as transport, so people can make medical appointments…full submission available here

 Submission to Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Statement of Strategy 2017-2019 

Transport in rural areas is very often seen as a lifeline to people and plays an imperative role in preventing isolation for people living in rural and sometimes very remote areas. However, people living in rural areas cannot access a widespread rural transport service or take advantage of free travel entitlements…full submission available here

Submission to Department of Housing Planning Community and Local Government Statement on Strategy 2017-2019

The Department for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government’s Statement of Strategy for 2016-2019 is an opportunity to put in place mechanisms that will help to develop the whole of the country so that no area continues to be left behind. There have been policies and strategies developed by the Department over previous years that had strong recommendations and actions outlined but were never implemented. These recommendations and actions should be re-examined and brought into the forthcoming strategy…full submission available here

Pre-Budget Submission 2017

Irish Rural Link urge the new Government to recognise the huge sacrifices made by people during the period of austerity and strongly recommend that Budget 2017 begins the process of stimulating the economy so that employment can begin to increase and lessen the hardship that many people and families continue to experience. Copy of Pre-Budget Submission 2017 available here

Newsletters

2023

Winter Newsletter

IRL final Newsletter of 2023 is available for download here

2019

Summer Newsletter

The latest IRL Quarterly Newsletter is now available to download. You can read about our work for the past three months here

Winter Newsletter

IRL final Newsletter of 2019 is available for download here

2018

Winter Newsletter

Our Winter Newsletter is available to download and read here

Annual Reviews

2017

Download Annual Review here

2016

Download Annual Review here

2015

Download Annual Review here

Press Releases

2018

Irish Rural Link Call for Establishment of Stakeholder Forum on Local Public Banking be expedited in the New Year

Irish Rural Link (IRL) – the national network representing the interest of rural communities are calling on Government to expedite the establishment of the Stakeholder Forum on Local Public Banking in the new year which is due to begin at the end of January 2019. Full Press Release can be read here

2017

5:12:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link welcome progress made in investigating Local Public Banking Model

5:12:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link pleased with progress made in investigating Local Public Banking Model

28:12:17_Press Release Irish Rural Link call for increase in rural policing 281217

7:12:17_Press Release Irish Rural Link hosts Seminar on EU LIFE Project

2:11:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Respond to Announcement of Funding for New RAPID Programme 021117

10:11:17_IRL Make submission to second draft of National Planning Framework 101117

21:11:17_Press Release Irish Rural Link Not Surprised Ireland one of the most expensive for Broadband

24:10:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link welcomes Minister Ross comments on Community Car Scheme

4:10:17_Joint Press Release_V1GA

27:9:17_IRL broadly welcomes the National Planning Framework Ireland 2040 Our Plan 270917

22:9:2017_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Concerned about continued disparity of Unemployment rates across regions

19:9:17_Irish Rural Link Concern on Rural Isolation, rural services and Crime 190917

19:9:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link call for a Bottom Up Approach to Farm Safety

27:7:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link call for a Bottom Up Approach to Farm Safety_1

4:7:17Press Release – Irish Rural Link Disappointed on further delays to Rollout of National Broadband Plan 040717

29:6:17_Press Release MICRO Composite Report

28:6:17Irish Rural Link calls for investment in social and health services and Regional Development at the National Economic Dialogue 280617

13:6:17_Irish Rural Link running Two Free Computer Programmes to get people and farmers online

25:5:17_Final Press Release Launch of CWF Strategic Plan 250517

4:5:17_Press Release Irish Rural Link Calls for Protocol on Rural Services 040517

26:4:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Holds Information Briefing on Rural Services in Buswells Hotel

13:4:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Now Calls for a Comprehensive Review of Public Transport for Rural Areas 130417

12:4:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link meeting Oireachtas Finance Committee 121007

10:4:17_Budget 2018 Press Release

4:4:17_IRL Concern on 300,000 premises contracted to Eir to delivery Broadband 040417

31:3:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Urgently Calls Minister Ross to Intervene in Transport Strikes 310317

31:3:17_IRL Welcomes make submission to National Planning Framework Ireland 2040 Our Plan 310317

29:3:17_Press Release IRL Make Submission to DAHRRG on Local Public Model 290317

23:3:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Disappointed on Short Notice of Bus Eireann Strikes 230317

7:3:17_Press Release Irish Rural Link Express Concerns about closures of Post Offices 070317

27:2:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Concerned over Impact Bus Eireann Strike will have on Rural Routes 270217

8:2:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link Launches MICRO Website 080217 Final

2:2:17_IRL Welcomes first stage of National Planning Framework 020217

25:1:17_Press Release – Irish Rural Link meeting Oireachtas Committee on Transport Sport and Tourism 250117

Reports

Poverty and Social Inclusion. The Case for Rural Ireland

The aim of this Report is to raise awareness and to highlight that poverty and social exclusion are not just urban issues but are very much evident in rural communities in Ireland. It looks at how poverty and social exclusion can be exacerbated as a result of living in a rural area.

Read the report

Just Transition and Wellbeing for Rural Communities Survey

Irish Rural Link and Social Justice Ireland are undertaking a joint research project examining rural communities, wellbeing and a Just Transition. We would be very grateful if you could circulate this short survey to your members.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HNQJW2P

The purpose of this survey is to get the views of rural dwellers and rural communities on a Just Transition, and how the wellbeing of rural communities can be improved. At this very important juncture in Irish life, as we begin? to implement the policies to meet our national climate goals by 2030, your views and the views of your wider network are vital to developing a clear picture of the potential impact on rural communities across Ireland.

The survey will remain open until the 31/07/2022. We aim to present preliminary results at the end of September, with a full report to be published later in 2022.