15 July 2026
Irish Rural Link (IRL) today presented its Pre-Budget Submission 2027 to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, calling on Government to use Budget 2027 to take decisive action on poverty, income inadequacy and the growing cost of living in rural Ireland.
With the publication of the new Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026–2030, Irish Rural Link says Budget 2027 must mark the beginning of meaningful investment to achieve the Roadmap’s ambitions. The organisation argues that tackling poverty requires not only adequate income supports but sustained investment in essential public services, particularly in rural communities where people face higher living costs and fewer service options.
“Budget 2027 presents a crucial opportunity to move beyond short-term measures and invest in long-term solutions that enable people to live with dignity,” said Briain Smyth, CEO, Irish Rural Link. “No one should be left behind because of where they live or because they rely on social welfare. Investment in income adequacy must go hand in hand with investment in public transport, healthcare, childcare, broadband and other vital services.”
Irish Rural Link warns that Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon, digital economy must be fair and inclusive. The organisation is calling for retrofitting grants to operate on a sliding scale based on income, low-cost guaranteed loans linked to ability to pay, and the development of a Community Outreach Programme to support households most dependent on fossil fuels throughout the transition.
The submission also highlights the urgent need for greater investment in public infrastructure in rural Ireland, noting that limited access to public transport increases dependence on private cars and significantly adds to household costs.
IRL asserts that “As global uncertainty continues and social values face increasing pressures, Ireland must remain committed to protecting its most vulnerable communities. Budget 2027 should be measured by its ability to reduce poverty, strengthen communities and ensure everyone can achieve a dignified standard of living.”
Irish Rural Link’s key Budget 2027 priorities include:
- Enhanced Rural Transport: Increased investment in the Rural Transport Programme and improved rural public transport services, alongside greater transparency in funding and service delivery.
- Investment in Rural Public Services: Significant investment in essential public services and the establishment of a dedicated body to examine and improve rural service delivery models.
- Renewable Energy Communities: Capital supports, affordable finance, improved grid access and trusted intermediaries to enable rural communities to develop and own renewable energy projects, while directing community energy revenues towards reducing rural energy poverty.
- National Meals on Wheels Network: A €10 million capital and resilience package, alongside increased core funding, to modernise facilities, improve energy efficiency and strengthen resilience against future energy and fuel disruptions.
- Community and Voluntary Sector: Increased operational funding and the introduction of core, multi-annual funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of community and voluntary organisations.
- Social Welfare: An increase of at least €15 per week in core social welfare payments, in line with the 2026 Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) findings, together with a 50% increase in the Fuel Allowance, broader eligibility criteria and retention of the extended payment period.
- Ring-Fenced Rural Development Funding: A protected, multi-annual rural funding model to safeguard investment in rural community development and programmes such as LEADER, regardless of future changes to the EU Multiannual Financial Framework or the Common Agricultural Policy.
Irish Rural Link believes that Budget 2027 must provide more than subsistence-level supports. It must deliver the investment needed to reduce poverty, strengthen rural communities and ensure that all people, regardless of where they live, have the opportunity to participate fully in Irish society.
Read the full Irish Rural Link Pre-Budget Submission 2027 here
Watch the full presentation to the Oireachtas Committee here (starts at 46 mins 20 secs)
