Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 October 2021

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

 

12:50 pm

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

This has been an anti-rural Ireland budget with nothing for the fishing industry, little for the farmers and a carbon tax attack on the people of rural Ireland alone. One of the few shining lights in the budget was a 50% reduction in fares for students travelling on public transport but the devil is in the detail here too as it exempts those who are not on public service obligation routes. That means most of the people in rural Ireland will not benefit from the 50% reduction. The big winners among students as a result of this 50% decrease in travel costs will be those travelling on the Luas and DART. That is a great boost for those who live inside the Red Cow roundabout in Dublin. One bus operator in west Cork who does several runs a day from Skibbereen and Bantry to Cork tells me takes 70% of the students to Cork, many of whom cannot get accommodation and rather travel daily. This bus operator, like thousands more, cannot have his students avail of this 50% reduction in student travel costs. Can the Government immediately reverse this shocking attack on rural Ireland so that every student who uses public transport, whether they are from Clonakilty, Bandon or Kinsale, is treated the same as those students from Dublin and is entitled to this 50% reduction?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.