The Minister for Rural Affairs says if so many people were not shopping online more rural retailers would be able to remain open.
Fine Gael Minister Michael Ring was asked about the government’s plan for rural Ireland while on a visit to Sligo over the weekend.
He hit out at Councils for not spending money he’s allocating to them.
When asked about broadband and the closure of small shops in this region, the Minister said that the downside of improving access is more people are going online.
He says there is very little he can do about that:
