Small towns in Ireland are suffering a long drawn-out decline with urgent action needed to ensure their survival, according to a new report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). The report also cites other issues that have led to the decline of town centres across the Republic. A restriction on out-of-town shopping centres and the provision of high-speed broadband nationwide are among the measures proposed by the SCSI to reverse the decline. “The crash when it came pushed more people towards our main cities – or emigration – while the impact of out-of-town shopping centres exacerbated the challenges faced by businesses in small towns. For businesses in small towns, not having broadband is akin to operating with one hand tied behind their back.

Source: The Irish Times November 30, 2018 06:00 UTC