A ‘rural budget’ was long overdue

IN many previous budgets, governments have ignored rural Ireland, and rural dwellers could have been forgiven if they thought the Government had taken them for granted.

A budget centred outside the Pale of Dublin was overdue.

Rural and urban dwellers will benefit equally if last week’s budget, and the Government’s underlying economic policy, achieve their objectives of fostering employment and growth, a prudent approach to public finances, investment in infrastructure, and securing competitiveness by keeping inflation low.