Irish Rural Link (IRL) has called for the findings in new reports from the Central Bank of Ireland on 'access to cash' in rural areas to be translated into "meaningful action".

IRL welcomed the Central Bank's publications, Access to Cash Local Deficiency Assessment Outcome Reports, and said that people in rural Ireland must be ensured that they can access cash "when and where they need it".

According to IRL, the Central Bank's reports draw on the concerns raised by residents and businesses around access to cash in their local areas, and where access to cash service points and ATMs is deemed insufficient to meet the requirements of the local community.

The rural organisation said the publication of these reports are an important step in implementing last year's access to cash law.

However, IRL also highlighted the impact that bank branch closures, the withdrawal of financial services; and the reduction in local banking facilities have had on towns and villages.

The organisation said that cash remains an "essential means of payment for many individuals, households, small businesses and community organisations".

IRL CEO Briain Smyth commented: "Cash must remain a viable and accessible payment option for those people who depend on it to pay goods and services, particularly as digital and online payments become more widespread.

"It has become increasingly difficult for people to withdraw cash and access cash in recent years with the ongoing closure of bank branches and post offices across rural towns and villages," he added.

According to Smyth, cash is still a vital budgeting tool for many people, especially older residents, low-income households, and welfare payment recipients.

He called for appropriate action to be taken to ensure that these people are not left behind in a transition to a "non-cash economy".

IRL has called for ensuring the availability of ATMs outside of limited trading schedules and that they are sufficiently stocked to avoid running out of cash.

The organisations also noted that access to cash is important to support the nighttime economy and viability of the rural pub and restaurant sector.

IRL said it will continue to work with both the community and the Central Bank to develop a "formal framework for the provision of community ATMs and community banking models", which will aim to bring accessible cash points to rural areas and remote locations.