David:

In response to Deputy O'Rourke's question, public transport is good but it could be so much better. In Italy, England and France there are metros in the large cities but we do not have this. This would cut out so much. We have the Luas but it is only in Dublin. It is slow and unreliable. It is not great.

We had a train line direct from Galway to Limerick but if I go to Limerick, where I have family, I have to get a train to Athlone first and then to Limerick. This is a long, slow, painful and indirect journey. We need more trains up and running. I know there are plans for this but it cannot be over the next ten years. We need it now. If it is going to happen now changes need to be made. Buses are great but they can only hold so many people. They are not everywhere. Some buses can go up and down the country but not all can. This is why we also need more of an emphasis on trains and a better public transport system in cities, such as the Luas but far more efficient.

Some places in rural areas are very disconnected from towns and where people go to school. It is not possible for people living there to cycle to school. It is important to have an emphasis on cycling to school. In cities cycling is probably far more efficient than using a car or walking but cycling is not an option for people who live in rural communities.

When I go to school I have to travel in my parents' car from my house to town and then from town I have to get a bus to where my secondary school is. We live right on the coast. It is important to have an emphasis on public transport but it will not answer all of our carbon emission problems. We will have to keep cars. Perhaps they can be electric but we will have to keep them for certain people. Some people cannot use a bus or cycle to work because it could be so far away. They could be in a rural community that is not connected. There are no trains going to the middle of the countryside unless there is an urban area nearby. Public transport is important and it needs to be improved but it will not help everyone to get everywhere.