"The heartbeat of rural Ireland is slipping away before our eyes" TD Michael Collins

Thousands of pubs have closed and thousands more under threat of closure - "the heartbeat of rural Ireland is slipping away before our eyes" TD Michael Collins

Michael Collins TD, leader of Independent Ireland, has today issued a stark warning to the Government over the continued neglect of rural pubs, post offices, and small businesses, calling for “immediate and targeted intervention” before more communities are left hollowed out.

Deputy Collins said the lifeblood of rural Ireland is “slipping away before our eyes”, with countless family-run establishments closing their doors in recent years – and many more on the brink.

“Our voices are hoarse calling for help for local pubs and businesses, and the Government continues to ignore us,” he said. “We are losing the very heartbeat of rural Ireland. The local pub, the post office, the village shop – they are the cornerstones of community life, and they are disappearing at an alarming rate.”

The warning comes amid industry estimates that Ireland could lose up to 1,000 more pubs over the next decade adding to the 2,100 pubs that have closed since 2005, this is exacerbated by economic pressure and, most recently, renewed threats from US tariffs on Irish drinks exports.

“These are not just commercial premises,” Collins continued. “The local pub is where neighbours meet, where stories are shared, and where isolation is eased. When a post office or pub closes, the community suffers – particularly older people, single-person households, and those without transport. These closures are eroding the social fabric of rural life.”

Deputy Collins called for a suite of urgent measures, and put forward a number of suggestions to support small communities:

"I am suggesting a new Rural Enterprise Rescue Package with specific supports for hospitality, retail, and postal services in towns and villages under 2,000 people, we need to look at a review of the licensing and insurance frameworks that are placing disproportionate burdens on small, family-run pubs.  I have called a number of times for Increased funding for the post office network to ensure the continuation of essential community services and finally, the return to the 9% VAT rate needs to happen now, not in 3 months or 6 months time"

He added that the ongoing pressure on small businesses in rural areas, combined with rising energy costs, insurance hikes, and now the potential impact of international tariffs, was “a perfect storm that will leave many rural towns unrecognisable if we do not act now”.