James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Drinking and socialising in country areas is an issue because it is becoming more and more restricted. The rural bus scheme is primarily a daytime scheme, providing access to banks, post offices, hospitals, chemists and retail outlets. It is obvious that Mr. McCarthy never lived in isolation in rural Ireland or he would not have threatened a vital lifeline for those who do. I hope he will have a change of thought on this matter and I hope the Government does not implement the McCarthy proposals in full. If it does, it will be to the detriment of rural Ireland.

The valuable work carried out by enthusiastic and hard-working Pobal staff, community resources centre staff and community transport co-ordinators has gone a long way to improving the situation of rural bus passengers. Rather than see the work stalled or restricted, the Government must prioritise rural transport in the forthcoming budget. On behalf of all those availing of the service who live in rural areas and do not have transport of their own, I plead with the Minister to ensure that it happens.

The midlands has been consistently overlooked in terms of infrastructure and vital transport links. The midlands was excluded from Transport 21 despite the great hullabaloo at the launch. It is becoming unbelievably repetitive to speak in this House about broken Government promises. The numbers of times I have addressed this is becoming legendary. The Minister should remember that reneging on promises, such as the retention and extension of the rural transport scheme, will leave many disgruntled communities and people.

The Public Transport Regulation Bill purports to put bus passengers' needs at the centre of bus route licensing. With the Dublin Transport Authority due to be renamed the national transport authority, the failure of the Minister to include rural areas is mystifying, but perhaps not. Despite its inclusive national title, the Bill has been described as good news for Dublin commuters because it prioritises the needs of bus passengers in the capital when issuing licences for bus routes. When will there be good news about public transport infrastructure for rural Ireland under this Government? Rural Ireland does not have the benefit of the Luas system. It does not have an equivalent of the DART. It is hard to say what transport it has.

On repeated occasions I have spoken on the Adjournment about the reopening of Killucan and Multyfarnham stations in County Westmeath. Studies have shown that hundreds of people would access these stations if they were up and running. With the rising costs of motoring, the large toll cost on the M4, the two hour delay getting to Dublin by road and the need to cut back on carbon emissions, the people of Killucan, Kinnegad, Multyfarnham and surrounding areas have a right of access to a station in the immediate vicinity. Despite this logic and the lack of transport infrastructure in the midlands, the Minister failed to consider these options. They were not included in Transport 21.

The people of Longford are also victims of under-provision of rail transport, being at the mercy of the Dublin-Sligo train. This is a major health and safety hazard on Sunday evenings. I highlighted this last Thursday when the Minister for Transport attended the House during Question Time. People are packed like sardines and a seat is out of the question for most. This happens as far back as Edgeworthstown where the train becomes full. That is some 100 km from passengers' destination in the capital city. I would like the Minister to examine this because it is a major health and safety issue. After a catastrophe or a serious accident is not the time for the Department or the Minister to take action. I have flagged this matter this evening and I hope the Minister takes note.

The development of the rail link between Mullingar and Athlone was also shamefully omitted from the Transport 21 programme. This vital infrastructural provision is essential to the economic development of the midlands. In order to increase inward investment in the region, rail transport is an import link in the chain. The midlands has some of the most dangerous roads in the country. This was highlighted by an AA report some time ago. Some of the roads in the midlands are known as the roads to hell. It also has the worst rail provision. In order for a constituent of mine to get to Cork by train, he must either travel to Portlaoise or Dublin. It is the same case if one wants to get to Belfast from Longford, Mullingar or Athlone. One must travel to Dublin first. What incentive is this to foreign investment or business expansion in the midlands?

The Government must urgently consider the possibility of providing a central rail link. I have highlighted this matter over the years at regional authority meetings when I served on such bodies.

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