Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

According to the Department they have. I look forward to hearing the Minister on this. Bus Éireann is seeking redundancies in many key parts of the country rather than enhancing public transport. We should use the green economy. With regard to health care, questions on the abandonment of the provision of key services in many rural towns, particularly in the west, and cancer services in the north west must be answered. I wanted to discuss the Leader programme but I do not have time.

We need to be more proactive in the development of the west and the regions. After 12 years of Fianna Fáil Government it is quite clear that it lost sight and fell asleep at the wheel. What matter are the people at the coalface and those who build communities? It is not money or the provision of services. I congratulate Senator Doherty on the report. It makes very interesting reading and, in some cases, one could replace the word "west" with "many parts of rural Ireland". It is worth debate and consideration and I look forward to the rest of the debate.