Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The Minister appreciates that the rural transport programme provides a wonderful service. It represents the beginning of what could be a real programme of rural transport in this country. As I said the other night, the Government seems to have forgotten that rural dwellers have as much right to public transport services as urban dwellers. The Minister mentioned that 1.5 million journeys will be made under the rural transport programme this year. One of the 36 rural transport programme companies is based in my local area of north Fingal. As almost 750 drivers are employed under the programme, it is an important source of local employment. It should not be forgotten that these companies meet approximately 50% of their costs through their fare boxes.

The rural transport programme is developing its links with Bus Éireann and other local private operators in the interests of providing a more comprehensive system. Would it not be a tragedy if the programme were to be discontinued? When Mr. Colm McCarthy and his group produced their famous report, the Minister said he found many of its recommendations regarding transport "baffling". Did he find Mr. McCarthy's comments on the rural transport programme "baffling"? Can he state definitively that he will not allow it to be destroyed? All parties have debated the Road Traffic Bill 2009. I think the Minister will acknowledge that when I saw his proposals, I rowed in behind them on behalf of the Labour Party, and with the support of my Labour Party colleagues, on the grounds of road safety. Is it not the case that the rural transport network, through the use of "booze buses" and other necessary facilities, has a tremendous role in combatting social exclusion in rural areas? Would it not be appropriate, for a host of reasons, for the Minister to make it clear this evening that he will oppose, by whatever means necessary, any cutbacks in the rural transport programme's budget? I understand that the budget is €8.5 million, rather than over €10 million as suggested by the Minister in his reply.

When the service operators come to see me and the Joint Committee on Transport, as they have done on a number of occasions, they tell us they receive a net allocation of €8.5 million to run the wonderful service throughout the country. I plead with the Minister to leave the rural transport network alone.

Deputy Mattie McGrath and the Minister's other colleagues, who seem to go to war to support the drinks industry, do not seem to tackle the issue of rural transport with the same seriousness and determination. The initiative deserves support.

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