Rural Ireland fails to provide youth with even a basic level of critical services

ONE of the biggest challenges facing rural youth in the West of Ireland is the inadequacy of the public transport system, according to new research published by National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI).

Young people who were surveyed in different parts of Ireland – including the West – described rural transport in their local areas as ‘virtually non-existent, unreliable, irregular and expensive’.

The young people surveyed still hadn’t progressed to the stage where they were in a position to drive themselves and consequently were either dependent on public transport or in getting lifts from their parents.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) recommends that the Government should introduce a public transport subsidy for those under the age of 18 years as well as providing community buses for rural counties and a fund to provide the cost of insurance and fuel.

Marie-Claire McAleer, head of research and policy at the NYCI said that limited public transport had massive implications for young people.

She said that the impact of limited public had implications for access to education, training and employment opportunities as well as access to mental health or sexual health services available in urban settings.

“Without public transport, accessing services in urban settings is not feasible and this coupled with the poor broadband infrastructure, inhibits young people’s access to vital supports and information available online,” she said.

The 102 page research document entitled: ‘Youth Work in Ireland. A Qualitative Research Study Exploring the Provision of Youth Work in a Rural Context’, was officially launched last week in Castlebar by Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, Michael Ring.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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