Election 2024: Seamus Boland — it all boils down to the economy and rural Ireland has been sidelined

CEO of Irish Rural Link tells the Irish Examiner what he feels needs to be done by the next government to address the challenges facing those who live and work in rural areas

Many of our large and small provincial towns were established in an era when transport was minimal and places were needed to service the sale of agricultural produce.

Elections, like Christmas, mean long shopping lists and like Christmas lists, children are warned that Santa can only deliver so much.

Of the many items on the rural election shopping list, broadband still remains. In 2007, when Irish Rural Link advocated that rural broadband should come to every house, we were roundly scoffed at by all and sundry economists.