Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister will acknowledge that continued under-investment has been the root cause of the crisis in which we have found ourselves since 2008. The public transport network receives a much smaller subvention than in many countries across Europe. Cutting off links and services that are failing should not be the automatic response, given the economic and social benefits public transport provides. People in rural communities feel isolated as a result of the closure of Garda stations, post offices and so on. I dearly hope the Minister will not cut or privatise public transport services. However, if one believes what one reads, one must wonder whether it is Government policy to cut off rural areas completely. To do so would be a retrograde step. Public services are not supposed to be about making profits. The purpose of a public transport network is to provide a service.

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