Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

Question 3: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport in view of the tighter road traffic legislation introduced recently and the lack of public transport facilities in rural areas, if he will ensure that the rural transport budget is safeguarded in Budget 2012; his views that there is unequal access to transport facilities in rural areas as opposed to towns and cities; his further views that the lack of rural transport facilities leads to increased rural isolation; his plans to introduce initiatives such as rate supports or tax incentives for rural businesses in the tourism industry such as country pubs who are suffering as a result of the lack of rural transport facilities and who wish to provide a transport service for their customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33645/11]

See this speech in context