Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak today when the dust has settled on what is a very anti-rural budget for the people of rural Ireland. I can give several reasons for that. Sometimes one can see something positive, but one has to look at the small print. When one looks at the small print, one sees the reality of the story.

This would be an ideal opportunity to turn things around for farmers, through the suckler grant or whatever. That is not going to happen. Farming organisations felt the suckler grant should have been €300. Unfortunately, there will be no percentage rise. The only percentage rise I saw in the budget, unless there is something in the small print I have not seen, is that animal rights groups will get a 50% increase in their budget, which is excellent for them. For farmers trying to rear animals, keep them in fields and work to provide meat to people, there is a difficulty.

The public transport budget is down 4%. I welcome the 50% cut in the cost of public transport for our youth, but we have found out today that the devil is in the detail. Many counties are not on PSO routes, which means people will not be able to avail of the 50% cut. The rumour today is that the Minister is scrambling to try to rectify that matter. I cannot name other counties, but apparently Wexford and many other counties are not classified as PSO routes. Young people living in those counties will now not benefit from the 50% cut they were supposed to get. This is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and not the Minister of State.

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