RURAL SERVICE PROVISIONS AND THE IMPACT OF A POPULATION REVIVAL - A STUDY OF PUBLIC-OPINION IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Prolonged depopulation has resulted in the erosion of many rural publi c services. Given that the depopulation trend has been replaced by a r epopulation of the countryside, this paper seeks to address the possib le impact on service provisions generally. A study of public opinion t owards selected rural services in Northern Ireland suggests that the p rovision at present is considered adequate, except for public transpor t. The analysis concludes by suggesting that the difficulties faced by service providers has changed little since the depopulation era and t hat alternative approaches need to be explored.