Mr. James Claffey:

I will outline a couple of figures relating to the symptoms. Between 2006 and 2011, unemployment levels in rural areas increased by 192% compared with a figure of 114% in urban areas. At 10%, people in these areas are also twice at risk of poverty compared with their urban counterparts. Rural areas have been under a major burden in the past five years owing to increased carbon taxes and so on. According to a study we conducted with the Vincentian Partnership, people in rural areas are spending €100 more per week just to live.