Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In view of what the Taoiseach said in regard to transport, and the fact that not all the private transport companies can avail of the lovely, sweet 20% reduction - now 50% reduction in some cases - for transport services in cities and between cities, what about the people of rural Ireland? Are they going to have to walk? The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is failing to come to talk to us. He is not turning up tonight up for a Topical Issue debate on it. We need a debate in the House about the discrimination against rural dwellers. It is shocking. This is in the transport area. Any student from my constituency who is depending on JJ Kavanagh and Sons or any other provider cannot get the reduction. It is totally unfair and discriminatory and I hope someone challenges it in the courts. The Minister's people are from Tipperary and he should be ashamed of himself for the way he is excluding large portions of the country and not allowing people there to have fair access to transport, education and all other services. It is totally discriminatory and we need a debate on it.

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