An inconvenient truth: Large parts of Ireland lack basic essentials for habitation

Up to 1.5m people in remote rural areas are still deprived of basic rights to mobility, communication and local access to food shopping, and change is long overdue,

Perhaps this is the decade when three basic elements for any community – mobility, communication and local access to food shops – becomes the norm throughout rural Ireland, eventually becoming a right. File photo: Larry Cummins

Media reports in recent days suggest rural transport and broadband issues hinder councils’ refugee placement plans.

These reports say that, under instructions from various departments, local authorities have been directed to provide accommodation in cities, towns and villages which are: well served by transport networks; have acceptable broadband services; and are ideally within walking distance of shops and amenities.