Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of Fine Gael, I am delighted that the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, came to the House. I noted his speech. I welcome back to the House the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, whose county won the Sam Maguire. He is present to engage with Senators on smarter travel.

I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, for the significant progress made in persuading people to choose a more sustainable transport mode, such as walking, cycling or public transport. This is no easy task in a country such as Ireland where the weather often makes the car a more attractive form of travel. However, I am struck by the amazing and welcome success of the Dublin bike scheme, as pointed out by the Minister of State. The scheme is expanding all the time. It is incredible the way that people living in this city have embraced Dublinbikes. This shows that smarter travel is more than a nice theory and that it can deliver real and tangible changes.

Society has changed a great deal considering the way people have embraced exercise, such as running, and taken up walking as a means of getting from A to B. This is a very welcome cultural change. The success of the Luas since its inception shows that if quality public transport options are available, people embrace them.

I would like either of the Ministers of State, Deputy McGinley or Deputy Kelly, to update us later on the Leap cards. They are an amazing success and I am delighted the student version has been launched. Are there plans to expand the card nationally?

My observations on the various successes to which I referred, such as Dublinbikes, the Luas and the Leap card, are all based on my living in Dublin during the week when the Seanad is sitting. It is obviously more difficult to deliver the kinds of changes in question in the countryside, as I know well as I come from rural Kilkenny.

I welcome what the Minister of State said on smarter travel funding. I hope the funding is maintained in these stringent times. I would be very interested to hear how the Minister is getting on with his plan to integrate local public transport services in rural areas. I have spoken many times about the importance of maintaining a local transport system. Fine Gael has long been committed to the concept of reliable sustainable transport services for rural communities. This is reflected in the programme for Government, which states the rural transport network is vital for rural communities as a reliable and sustainable transport service. It states we will maintain and expand the rural transport programme with other local transport services as much as possible.

Senator Barrett implied that where there is competition on routes, there is value for money. If I purchased a return train ticket from Kilkenny to Dublin tomorrow morning, I would pay ¤32. However, if I purchased a ticket online, I would pay ¤9.99. This must be changed and there should be more access. If people obtain value for money, they will use public transport.

I am very familiar with the local rural transport provider in my area, Ringalink, which provides services in Kilkenny, Carlow and south Tipperary. The service is particularly important to elderly people, especially those who live alone and may not be in a position to run a car. Their only means of getting to a shop or town to see a doctor, for example, is to use the rural transport service. I am very conscious of this cohort. Those of us who represent rural constituencies need to be mindful of the needs of the vulnerable, especially the elderly.

I welcome the Active Travel towns concept. I look forward to its expansion to other areas if funding is released. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, for his commitment to preserving rural transport and achieving a more modern and efficient system of transport in rural areas through the integration of services. I would very much welcome an update on how this project is proceeding. I recognise it will be a monumental task on which I have no doubt the Minister of State will deliver.

As Senator Barrett pointed out, the Minister of State may be in a position to brief the House on public service obligation tendering for bus routes.

I know that the Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland has been lobbying for an approach that would involve competitive tendering for bundles of bus routes when the tendering process opens up in line with EU law and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 is amended. I am aware that public consultation is taking place and perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, or the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, could give us an indication of the Department's thinking on when the tendering might begin. Has an approach been agreed? How many private companies are hoping to avail of new contracts as a result of the new measures?

I am conscious that we are in the lead-up to a budget. The economic situation left by the last Government means that it is a difficult period to be in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, to the credit of the Ministers of State, particularly the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, initiatives like smarter travel, which are not a burden on budgets, are being pursued. Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, could give us a flavour of other incentives that are planned for the near future. I note the presence of students from Trinity College Dublin and welcome them to the House.