The government is being told to stop trying to 'solve' the Irish employment problem with multinational companies.

Social Justice Ireland says the coalition needs to focus more on small business and increase investment in infrastructure, particularly broadband.

The think-tank has released its latest National Social Monitor, which shows poverty is a bigger problem in rural areas than in towns and cities.

The report sets out the type of difficulties people are encountering. It says that the number of people aged 85 over the next 10 years will double,

It also finds that those who live in rural Ireland, your chances of living in poverty are 4.5 percentage points higher.

Director Sean Healy told Newstalk Breakfast he understands its not as simple as getting big companies to leave towns and cities.