Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Dempsey. I would like to give a broad welcome to the intent of this Bill. I would like to speak about a couple of aspects of the rural transport issue. My colleagues have already highlighted some of the points I intended to make. A recent Central Statistics Office survey emphasised the real need to retain the rural transport service, which offers rural people a consistent means of accessing local services. When I used local buses over recent weeks, I realised that it can be difficult for rural people who may live eight or ten miles from an urban centre or even a village to access shops or doctors' surgeries. It brought it home to me that people in rural areas, especially older people, can be discriminated against in the transport sector. An elderly person in Dublin can hop on a bus at any time to access basic services, such as the local doctor or pharmacy. People in rural Ireland, by contrast, are lucky if they can use public transport to go to town or visit the doctor once a week. I appreciate how important are such services. I compliment Pobal and the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, on the service that is provided. However, it would be better if there were more co-operation between Pobal and the Department of Transport. Perhaps it would be more efficient if the Department were to oversee the whole programme and take the rural transport service on board. I would appreciate if the Minister could comment on that.

I am glad to have an opportunity to respond to Senator Boyle's comments on the spatial strategy. Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore, which are deemed to be gateway towns under the strategy, would have a very good public transport service if the political will existed to develop the rail link between Mullingar and Athlone, which was not included in Transport 21. Given that the Bill before the House is about controlling passenger services, this is an appropriate time to ask the Minister to include the rail link between Mullingar, which is the county town of Westmeath, and Athlone, which has the county's institute of technology, in the Transport 21 plan. The bus service between the towns, both of which are deemed to be gateways under the national spatial strategy, is very poor. The development of the line would also link Sligo to Athlone by rail. I ask the Minister to comment on that issue and also on the possibility of reopening Killucan railway station, an issue with which he is very familiar. If the station in question were used to serve those who commute into Dublin, it would help the people of north Westmeath and south-west Meath to access Dublin conveniently. I advocate that as something the Minister should do.

I do not wish to labour the points that have already been made by other speakers. There should be greater consultation with the general public and community groups. Needs assessments should be conducted when decisions are being taken about the locations of bus stops etc. As a result of the economic downturn, many people are accessing education in local colleges because they cannot afford to live in the greater Dublin area or in other cities. I learned last week that 20 students from the Rochfortbridge area use the Dublin to Galway inter-city bus service to get to Athlone each day. It makes no sense that the bus stops at the bus station but not at the institute of technology. The students have to walk two miles from the bus station to the institute. If more students were able to use this very good service, more families would make savings. Economies of scale would also improve as bus usage increased.

I read a disturbing article in yesterday's Evening Herald about taxi men and women - mostly men - who are being put to the pin of their collars. They are so unregulated that I question whether it is right to allow this many taxis. I am concerned about the poor unfortunate people who are trying to earn a crust and that suicide rates among taxi drivers have risen.

I again thank the Minister for his contribution and welcome the bones of this Bill.