Irish Rural Link has warned that lower incomes in rural areas are a direct "reflection of the quality of jobs" available in some areas.

The national network representing the interest of rural communities has welcomed the findings of a report issued this week by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on the Geographical Profiles of Income in Ireland 2022.

According to Irish Rural Link the CSO report confirms what it has repeatedly highlighted in relation to low incomes of rural households "for many years" .

The CSO report set out that the Carndonagh local electoral area in Donegal had the lowest household income of €35,614, with the household income for Lifford of €31,959. Donegal as a whole had the lowest household income in the country at €42,497.

Leitrim, Longford and Kerry had the lowest household income in their region at €45,267, €47,217 and €48,320 respectively.

Irish Rural Link said: "Many of the jobs in these counties and within the rural towns of these counties are minimum wage, and have precarious working hours, in sectors like tourism, retail, low skill manufacturing.

"The extra cost of keeping a car on the road, and for most families, two cars, adds to family household expenses."

The group believes that although remote working "is not a silver bullet" it can go some way to improve job opportunities in rural Ireland.

"We continue to call for a more regionally balanced approach to job creation, and also better recognition of the jobs created in sectors of tourism, retail, and hospitality that are important contributors to the overall economy," it added.

Irish Rural Link represents the interests of locally based groups in disadvantaged and marginalised areas by highlighting problems, advocating appropriate policies, sharing experiences, and examples of good practice.

It has a membership of over 600 rural community groups dedicated to sustainable development and represents communities at a national and international level.