Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for a debate on radon gas. We should start to investigate the situation in our primary and secondary schools.

The rural transport initiative has been pursued on a pilot basis for a number of years. Its pilot status will come to an end next year. I am sure extra funding will be made available when it is initiated on a mainstream basis next year. I would like the House to debate the extension of the rural transport initiative in the evenings and at night. I am familiar with the work that is being done in this regard in two of the 34 groups nationally, in north Connemara and south-east Galway. People on the radio and elsewhere in the media are talking about the fact that it is difficult for people to get to restaurants and pubs in the evening. Rural Ireland is particularly affected by this problem. It would not take much more funding to extend the scheme to later in the day. I was glad to hear yesterday that Bus Éireann is involved in talks with an integrated rural group in County Galway. It is proposed to get Bus Éireann involved in the rural transport initiative in that area. There is a role for business people, including publicans, in this regard. Perhaps the public and private sectors can co-operate to offer transport services to people who feel socially excluded. The rural transport initiative is all about preventing social exclusion. It aims to ensure people can avail of transport facilities in areas where taxis and buses, for example, are not available. I hope we can debate this matter as soon as possible.