Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

——and the rural transport initiative will continue to operate as it has done, we will all believe him. The reality is that the Minister cannot say that today. I hope that will be the eventual outcome, but it cannot be achieved today. I commend the Minister and his Department for making this scheme, which was needed, successful. I cannot understand why a successful scheme, 10% of the costs of which are administrative, is to be lumped in with a Department of Transport scheme, up to 40% of the costs of which are administrative. The Minister needs to hold his ground and tell the Taoiseach to get the Minister for Transport to set his own shop in order by sorting out the problems in the rural transport initiative. People in rural communities should be able to avail of the best possible services. I wish to comment on what has been provided over recent years. A 2002 survey found that 380,000 people in rural Ireland believe their transport needs are not being met. It was predicted that the figure would increase to 450,000 over the coming years. Other Senators have mentioned Bus Éireann's 99 route cuts, which will put more pressure on communities in rural Ireland. One of the things I welcomed in the Awakening the West report was the evening service, which was a positive and courageous initiative. Just as I commended the Minister on that, I believe he needs to come up with a better response to the current difficulties. He needs to make it clear not only that the evening services and the rural transport initiative services will remain intact, but also that he will consider how they can be expanded.