Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I believe in a stronger public transport system throughout rural Ireland. The Minister for Transport and for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan, published a substantive investment programme in rural transport recently which represents a significant advance on what we have had heretofore. It is very important we improve transport overall, including public transport, and give additional supports to existing transport operators in rural Ireland.

We will not have a DART, I suspect, from Bere Island or from Beara. Obviously, in areas of high population, in Wicklow, for example, there will be a greater frequency, but we need to increase frequency. I note Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan suggested to me this idea of one every hour in every village. That is a significant target, but that is the type of approach we want to move towards in respect of public transport in rural Ireland and our climate responsibilities.

The carbon tax is not the issue in terms of the current increases in fuel and energy. A global issue is fundamentally responsible for the significant increases in fuel and energy pricing. Electricity, eventually, will follow through. It is hoped that will abate in the first quarter of next year. That is what the European Central Bank and others are saying. I accept the jury is out on that. The Government has responded to this in the budget in terms of social protection and taxation measures to try to alleviate and make some contribution to help people cope with the increase in fuel. The carbon tax will deal with substantial investment in retrofitting which ultimately will give lower energy costs for homeowners across the board. It is far more sustainable into the future. However, it is not the main driver by any yardstick of the current increase in energy prices across Europe and the globe, of which Ireland is part.

We acknowledge there is a lot of pressure on people and Government is constantly keeping the situation under review in terms of what measures we could implement to try to reduce the electricity bills for householders in this country. That would be in addition to the measures that we took in the budget in terms of social protection and in terms of the taxation measures themselves. That is our position.

In the context of rural Ireland, the Deputy must acknowledge the variety of schemes we have initiated and substantially resourced in the past 12 months in terms of rural funding, capital projects, LEADER funding and CLÁR funding. Substantial schemes have been initiated across the board. The Government has demonstrated a real commitment to rural Ireland, and that is manifest in the level of resources we have allocated and which will continue. I can assure the Deputy of that.

See this speech in context