February 15, 2021 5:23 pm
In 2019, one in 12 (8.4%) of rural households said they had great difficulty in accessing a shop that sells groceries, while a further 19.7% said they had some difficulty.
According to the results of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) ‘Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) Report on Household Amenities and Access to Services 2004-2019’, rural households have reported increased difficulty in accessing services such as post offices, banks and shops.
Between 2011 and 2019, respondents were asked about their self-perceived ease in accessing local services.
“The proportion of rural households with great difficulty accessing public transport increased from 23.4% in 2011 to 27.9% in 2019, whereas the proportion for urban households remained the same in 2011 and 2019, at 3% both years,” the CSO said.