Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

Thank you.

I thank Senators for their comments and questions. When previously a Member of this House, I told myself that if I ever got the opportunity to hold the position of Minister or Minister of State, I would always endeavour to answer as directly and fairly as possible any questions put to me. I will endeavour to do so today.

I will try to respond to questions in the order they were asked. I appreciate Senator Daly's comments of support in regard to the changes needed in the integrated approach. I am well aware of his hinterland given my other half comes from that direction. I support the need to retain services. Services will be retained. I am dedicated to the provision of rural services; it is in my DNA. I am working closely with the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, on the matter of school transport. We are looking at better ways of integrating services into the future to ensure the provision of better and extra services.

My address at the national conference of the RTPI this year was my first public address as Minister of State. I told the RTPI I would be supportive of its requirements but that it had to come with me in regard to introducing the various changes that needed to be made in relation to future services. There is, in terms of service provision throughout the country, no such thing as best practice. One size does not fit all. What might work in Tipperary might not work in Donegal or Galway. While in some areas there are train and bus services, there are none in others. What might work in one part of the county in which Senator Landy lives might not necessarily work in the other part where I live. We are both from the same county. What is needed is customisation and a plan to co-ordinate that customisation. That is my role.

Senator O'Neill referred to Ring a Link, of which I am very supportive. I have met it and it has done good work. As the Senator stated, we face challenges in terms of the comprehensive spending review. This area, like every other, will have to come through that process. I am confident we will retain funding in respect of rural transport services. However, it is not appropriate for me to predetermine the outcome of that process. I am confident the Government will look favourably upon rural services and the requirement for same. There are enough people in Government from rural Ireland who are well aware of the requirements of rural Ireland. Some of them are members of the Cabinet and others hold Minister of State portfolios.

The issue of roads was also raised. With the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, other colleagues and I are considering the introduction of a winter plan for the forthcoming winter. While funding in terms of roads is important, we must also be organised. We want to ensure we are in a position to meet some of the problems that may arise from what is predicted to be a harsh winter. Senator Heffernan told us about an elderly lady to whom he regularly gave a lift to Mitchelstown. That is an example of what needs to be addressed. There are possibly buses that are not, from a scheduling point of view, meeting their requirement. It is also possible that other services operated by other transport providers may be going the same route. The road to Mitchelstown is a fairly direct route. The issue will need to be addressed to meet the lady's requirements.

I agree with the comments in regard to comprehensive coverage. I looked at the same map and the manner in which the services are provided. We will need to examine administration costs. There are different volumes of administration costs depending on the area one is looking at. On Senator Landy's question, the costs vary depending on the scheme. Some are high and others are, to be fair, low. I argue that those for which costs are low also tend to be the ones that are efficient. All of this will have to be examined.

Senator Moloney quoted from my contribution. I was referring in that regard to the fact that the focus should be on what one did well and that one should be facilitated by others to ensure there could be better transport services. That is where I was coming from.

Great reference was made to the Kerry cancer transport service and I have met its representatives. They provide a phenomenal service and, overall, there is a phenomenal rural transport service in County Kerry. I hope to meet its participants in the coming weeks.

The issue of ticket prices was raised and I will take it up with Iarnród Éireann. I have spoken on the topic before, but I will take it up again, especially with regard to variations in single and return tickets. I take on board the comments relating to student fares and will speak to representatives of Iarnród Éireann in that regard.

Senator Landy made an important comment with regard to the publicity surrounding many services and I have referred to the issue. There should be greater co-ordination of services and there should be greater co-ordination in rural areas in publicising what is available. I know from my own experience that many people were not aware of services until I brought them to their attention. We must address the issue as public transport must become a greater option in people's lives. I made similar comments to Senator Landy about local authorities, which have a greater role to play. I have taken the issue on board. The future of the rural transport programme and the provision of one-off services, school transport, match services and other outings could be brought into the debate.

Senator Mullen mentioned Irish Rural Link, an organisation of which I am very supportive. I take on board and welcome the Senator's comments on school transport.

Senator Brennan commented, like all Senators, on the school bus system. That is welcome. If the sample of opinion in the House is anything to go by, there is a mood for change in the manner in which the system is managed with regard to a co-ordinated role with other services within my remit. I am encouraged by this.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh gave a very reasonable contribution until he argued that more money should be put into the process. I genuinely do not know where the Senator believes the money can come from in this and other areas given our current position, which came about as a result of the decisions of previous Administrations. The Senator's party voted for the biggest of these decisions. I accept the Senator's detailed knowledge of his own area and, clearly, he has given much thought to it. He had some reasonable suggestions. He spoke about accessibility. If there are specific areas concerning accessibility to any public transport service, Senators should not hesitate to bring them to my attention. I will certainly act if they are a cause for concern.

I agree that insurance must be considered with regard to any changes and the issue must be tackled. I made a wry grin when the Senator referred to the example of change in Scotland where the postman also drives a bus. It would take much time to get the post around rural Ireland at that rate.