Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the decision to suspend the transport service in seven rural areas of east and west Cork, Cavan, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Laois. I cannot understand why the Government has done this. This service was established on a pilot basis in 2007. I have raised this matter with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs many times during Question Time and on each occasion he has remarked on the success of the scheme.

This decision is an attack on elderly people, who are the most vulnerable in society. In rural areas we do not have Luas, Dublin Bus or any of the transport facilities available in cities. We depend on the rural community to provide rural services. This scheme was working very well but the Minister has now withdrawn funding. Given that the scheme is so successful in the seven pilot areas I expected the Government to allocate further funding to extend it to other rural areas.

Age Action is very upset by this decision. This is the Government's third attack on elderly people this year. Its first attack was on medical cards and its second on safety alarms. In some rural areas this service provides elderly and vulnerable people with their only opportunity to get their shopping, go to bingo or to meet people. This is a major setback for rural Ireland and for the elderly.

A small amount of money was working very well. I complimented Deputy Ó Cuív and his Department on how this money was being spent. It was targeted at vulnerable groups in rural Ireland. Another service is now being taken away. Post offices have gone and Garda stations are going. Bus Éireann has announced that it will cut its services by 15%. We now expect more rural services to be taken away.

This is a shame; it is a mean and petty attack on the most vulnerable who are most in need of services, the elderly in rural Ireland. I am surprised at Deputy Ó Cuív and his Department. I cannot understand why such crucial decisions are being taken in order to save such small amounts of money. The Minister of State assures me that the safety alarm scheme will be up and running in September. I hope he and the Minister will sit down with their officials tomorrow and reverse their decision, continue the pilot transport scheme and extend it to other rural areas. The agents appointed by the State are not doing the job for rural Ireland and now the Government is also letting rural people down.

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