Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 38: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on his discussions with the Department of Transport on the provision of a rural transport service in parts of rural Ireland not already provided with such a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43320/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While I have not had any recent discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, regarding the provision of a rural transport service, I am very aware of the work he is doing in this regard and I fully support the rural transport initiatives being operated by his Department.

Indeed, the rural transport initiative, RTI, has been a great success. It has been operating on a pilot basis since 2002 and, under the initiative, 34 community transport groups around the country are being funded to address the transport needs of their areas through the provision of local transport services. RTI projects provide public transport services for people in rural areas who otherwise would not have access to transport for shopping and accessing basic essential services.

The pilot phase of the RTI finishes at the end of this year and preparations are under way to mainstream the RTI from 2007 onwards in line with Government commitments in the matter. I understand that a budget of €9 million will be provided for the RTI in 2007.

As articulated in the White Paper on Rural Development, the Government remains committed to providing essential public services in rural areas to ensure a proper environment for economic development, promote social inclusion and support dispersed, viable rural communities.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am surprised the Minister has not had discussions with the Minister for Transport on rural transport because in his capacity as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs he has a major responsibility to address the anomaly that exists in rural Ireland in that some areas have a transport system while others do not. My constituency of Galway South, for example, has a rural transport service but north-east Galway does not have such a service.

The Minister will agree that senior citizens living in this city have free travel and can travel throughout the city at no personal cost. On other occasions the Minister or his colleagues may have made great play out of the fact that senior citizens are entitled to free transport. One may be entitled to something but if it does not exist, surely the Minister will agree it cannot be availed of. I put it to the Minister that this is discrimination against the people in rural Ireland, those whom the Minister is charged with representing in his capacity as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Our Constitution, which was crafted by the Minister's grandfather, purports to treat all the people equally but the Minister and his Government are upholding a situation where discrimination is being practised against people in this country.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy should confine himself to questions, not statements.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I ask the Minister to give an undertaking that in his capacity as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs he will ensure this discrimination and treatment of rural elderly people as second class citizens will be addressed immediately and that areas such as north-east Galway will be provided with a rural transport service as a matter of urgency.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The easiest way for the Deputy to get an answer to this question is to ask the Minister involved.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This Minister, in his capacity as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has a responsibility in this area as well.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No. I do not have a responsibility in this area. The Minister for Transport——

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They are the Minister's people who are left without a service.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

All the people of Ireland are my people——

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

——when it comes to that. If we look at it logically, I have responsibility for rural affairs, all the deprived areas through the RAPID programme and so on. One could hardly find an area in which my Department, because of its geographic remit, does not have an input. If the Government had not made the mainframe decisions, intensive discussions would probably be taking place between my Department and the Department of Transport but as I said in my reply, we are mainstreaming the service. We are also providing a good deal of extra money. I do not need to highlight for the Minister for Transport, who represents a rural constituency, the various issues, some of which the Deputy has mentioned. I have no doubt that with the extra funding he will try to ensure that as many areas as possible are covered but having made the major decision I must now give him space to work out the minor details. I am sure the Deputy will welcome the fact that it is now mainstreamed and that there is more money for the rural transport scheme. As he is aware, I am very anxious that these schemes operate as far as possible through existing organisations that are expanding to ensure we do not keep reinventing the wheel and that we get economies of scale. I understand in some areas the rural social scheme, for example, has been used. I am in favour of those innovative solutions but it is fundamentally an issue for the Minister for Transport. The major decisions have been made. I do not need to remake them for him.