Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When I was leaving my home in Newbridge to go to work in Leinster House this morning, I had the options of driving, taking the bus or getting a train because I live close to a good rail network. The train is quite expensive but that is another argument. My brother, Cathal, who lives in my family home outside Rathangan, does not have those options. There is no railway station in the town. Cathal does not drive but needs to go to work every day. His job is incredibly important to him. He has Down's syndrome and going to work is the mainstay of his life. It gives him independence, a salary and an opportunity to socialise in his workplace in the way many of us want to do. Part of his journey to work requires his use of a public bus. If that is taken away from him, I dread to think of the impact on him. There are many more like Cathal in south Kildare, the rest of the county and across the country. So many people are absolutely dependent on Bus Éireann.

We are lucky to have four railway stations in County Kildare but many counties, including that of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, have none. That the Government is even considering the possibility of closing down Bus Éireann is appalling. It is leading to considerable fear among many people in rural areas. It is quite ironic that the Government published a paper last week with 276 actions for supporting rural areas while people feel they will lose out on the connectivity that is very important for their jobs, health and daily lives. I plead with the Minister to show leadership by confronting the crisis facing the public transport system. Ignoring the crisis will not make it go away. The workers on Bus Éireann absolutely need to be supported.

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