Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Ba bhreá liom an deis a ghabháil chun fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus a rá cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an cheist seo. Is minic agus muid ag caint faoi na fadhbanna atá againn sa tír seo go leagtar an bhéim ar chursaí na gcathracha mar go mbíonn daoine ag iarraidh airgead a sparáil. Is minic a léirítear dí-mheas ar na riachtanaisí faoin tuath. Tá an-áthas orm, mar sin, gur luaigh an t-Aire, ag tús a oráide agus é ag caint faoi chúraí taistil poiblí, nach ceist na gcathracha nó ceist a bhaineann le bailtí é seo amháin ach ceist atá fíor thábhachtach ó thaobh na tuaithe de.

I am glad the Minister of State began by stressing that public transport is not just an urban issue but a real one for rural areas as well. I have had considerable contact with people who have made the point that the rural transport programme has made a significant difference. Because of its flexibility, arrangements can be made to meet needs in particular situations.

I take the opportunity to draw the Minister's attention to the pre-budget submission that Irish Rural Link made recently, in which it points out that a key benefit of the rural transport programme is its role in combating rural isolation. When we consider the issue, we should focus on the isolation felt by older people in rural areas, who are less able to rely on local family networks and support systems. That is precisely where the value of the rural transport programme can be seen. It relies on and encourages community involvement, and community groups play a key role in the delivery and affordability of the programme because it has that co-operative dimension.

I understand the rural transport programme accounts for about 1.5 million passengers annually, and it achieves that while functioning with less than 1.2 per cent of the total annual spend on public transport. There is a strong case to be made for not just continuing it but expanding it. If we are serious about it, we should consider Irish Rural Link's recommendation that rural transport services across the board, including Bus Éireann and school transport services, should be more integrated. In that way, we can hope for a better reputation for rural transport and also for more efficiency. Obviously, one is linked to the other.

The rapid increase in urbanisation and the failure of decentralisation should not deter us from supporting and encouraging rural life. I know that the Minister of State is sympathetic to this, given where he comes from. Outside of the obvious welfare issues involved, again focusing on our older citizens, it makes little sense to pin so much of our future economic aspirations on agrifood if we ignore the communities where the sector flourishes. It is an area where we often hear phrases such as "joined-up thinking", but they cannot be avoided when one is considering an issue such as this.

Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé deacair ar an Rialtas ag an am áirithe seo agus go bhfuil ceisteanna deacra le freagairt maidir le caiteachas airgid. Ach chomh fada is a bhaineann sé le leas an phobail caithfimid díriú isteach agus an clár seo faoi thaistil tuaithe a lárnú agus a bhuanú.