Social Justice Ireland is urging the government to build regional recovery into Budget 2022.

The future of rural Ireland "is under threat" as it tries to deal with the consequences of Brexit, Covid-19, and our climate crisis, the think tank has said. 

How Ireland ensures rural areas and regions are supported to meet these challenges and how we transition to a more sustainable society "will determine what kind of rural communities we will have in Ireland 20 years from now".

Dr. Seán Healy, CEO of Social Justice Ireland, said:

“Building a regional recovery must be a priority in Budget 2022. The social and economic impact of the pandemic on the regions will be lasting. 

Launching Social Justice Ireland’s briefing ‘Regional Recovery and Budget 2022’, Dr. Healy noted that “Budget 2022 is an opportunity for government to deliver on the ambition of Our Rural Future and make available the necessary resources to ensure the strategy is a success”.

Making the case for additional investment in the regions in Budget 2022, Michelle Murphy, research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland said that "towns and villages across the regions face many challenges, some of which pre-date the pandemic". 

"In addition, new challenges have emerged, the impact of Covid-19, the ongoing fallout from Brexit, and the impact of digitisation on employment in areas that were already struggling. 

"Remote working presents an opportunity to reinvigorate rural communities, but in order for government strategies [like] ‘Our Rural Future’ and ‘Making Remote Work’ to be successful, the supporting infrastructure must be put in place.”

Some of Social Justice Ireland’s key proposals: