Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Power.

Having read both motions, I am struck at how all parties are singing from the same hymnsheet. Some time ago in a paper I gave on vibrant rural community development, I pointed out how cogent reasons show the maintenance of rural populations and ensuring the growth of our cities is not at the expense of rural communities not only makes economic but also social sense. If there were no rural public transport network, our rural communities would as well be dead. We cannot marginalise or isolate our rural population. I acknowledge the Government has done much in this area and it is a policy contained in the programme for Government, the national development plan and the Department of Transport's sectorial plan under the Disability Act 2005.

However, after an bord snip nua's report, we all have heard how rural transport schemes may be snipped in the next budget. I do not want that to happen. Earlier on the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, I raised my concerns that our rural communities are being neglected. Rural transport should be incorporated into county development plans. It does not make sense in rural areas with a wide range of services including schools, health links or social facilities. If we do not have rural transport we do not have those services. There is talk of pubs closing because of the new licensing laws. I do not want ghost towns or urbanisation to that extent. I want every part of Ireland to be vibrant such that if I wish to live in a rural area I will have services.

One key aspect of those services is transport. It is very important that the Minister of State bring this message back to the Government and that it maintain rural transport at all costs. It is not up for bargaining. I do not want to see the weak and the vulnerable affected because those who have cars have transport. There are many old age pensioners who have made a significant contribution to society but do not have services. They do not even have the power to go out to campaign for this. They are the silent people in society and could be neglected. It is very important we do not marginalise those people.

I hope that in his reply the Minister of State will offer positive thinking on rural transport. It is so important that our vibrant communities are not further neglected through lack of these services. Rural transport is at the core of these communities. Enough has already been taken away; post offices, local Garda stations and local shops are closing. These places will be ghost towns from the middle of November. I do not want to see that. I want people to have transport at night if they want to go to play bingo, or to the local pub for a chat and to play a game of cards. I want action. The only way to get that is through rural transport. I hope that we will all sing the same tune on this issue.