Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Kerrane on this Bill. Rural Ireland is largely seen as an afterthought when it comes to investment but it is first in line when it comes to the withdrawal of services. People in my constituency are sick and tired of being left without and told it is in their own interests. The communities of Carrick-on-Suir and Roscrea in Tipperary have been told that long-stay convalescent beds are being torn away from their communities and their loved ones are to be looked after further from those localities at a time when the ability to travel around our county is virtually non-existent. Those people are left without care in their communities or the available public transport to deal with the relocation of services. This has happened at the same time as the X12 Expressway service has been discontinued. A three-month guarantee is in place for the X8 Expressway route. It is also the case that train timetables are not designed for the needs of towns in rural Ireland.

Our young people are also left isolated and for years have been denied the services they need to get on with their lives. An example of that is the fact that Jigsaw has again been delayed in Tipperary. Despite our continued appeals, all citizens in every community in rural Ireland have been continually ignored.

I again thank Deputy Kerrane for introducing this Bill which seeks to address the unequal treatment of rural Ireland. Rural Ireland must no longer be left behind and we ask the House to support the Bill.

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