Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I join with other speakers in asking the Leader to provide time, if possible this week, for a debate on rural Ireland and community life. Senator Ó Domhnaill spoke about the evening rural transport scheme which is to be cut. Let us not forget that three quarters of Ireland is rural. We need a viable transport link in rural areas. The Government is taking a short-sighted approach to saving money and is depriving people of the opportunity to live in their communities. Also, the decision of Bus Éireann to sever, curtail or discontinue services in many parts and the cut by the Health Service Executive in home care packages will result in people being deprived of services and the majority of areas becoming isolated.

I ask the Leader to provide time for a debate with the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in the context of his remarks yesterday in the Dáil regarding the grant scheme to the Gaelic Players Association. This, coupled with the fact that the Minister has shelved the sports capital programme, tells our elite GAA players they will not be rewarded for playing the game or raising the sport to the highest level. This Government appears to have no policy on sport. I have called on numerous occasions for a debate on sport but have not yet received a positive response.

I seek a debate on assistance to home owners, particularly those who are hard pressed to repay their mortgages. I know many couples who are temporarily paying their mortgages with credit cards. Loan sharks are preying on people and making their lives uncomfortable. We should call on the relevant Oireachtas committee to regulate these sharks and moneylenders so that we can have an equitable system of lending and relieve the pressure on young couples.