Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the organisation's success and its contribution to the area. It does a fine job and I am sure some of its work will be replicated and used elsewhere. I have no doubt there are other examples of good practice among rural transport programme groups, which will also be replicated. It has been decided, in consultation with the National Transport Authority, to establish a TCU in County Tipperary. Given that the county now has one local authority and vocational education committee and that Deputy Mattie McGrath and I will soon share a constituency, I am surprised the Deputy is concerned about a proposal to join north, mid and west County Tipperary with the south of the county to address its transport needs. This is the appropriate approach.

Ring a Link does a fine job not only in County Tipperary but also in meeting transport needs in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. Extensive services are required across all transport co-ordination unit. It is not appropriate for me to discuss where TCUs will be provide services or where their offices will be based, as these decisions are part of an ongoing process. In my view, the solution proposed for the county Deputy McGrath and I represent is the optimal one for the county. Many areas of County Tipperary are not covered by rural transport services. Some form of realignment is required across the county to ensure these areas are considered for a service. Under the model the Deputy is advocating, many areas would not have access to services.

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