Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate and applaud all those involved in our sporting achievements this year and in recent years. There are many areas across the globe where we punch above our weight and sport is certainly one of them, from hockey and rowing to horse racing, boxing, rugby, golf and soccer. There are incredibly talented people in Ireland, and each and every one of them should be admired. Nevertheless, we need to do more to support our young, female or vulnerable athletes, as well as those who would be athletes if they had the means, those who define our wonderful, multicultural society today and those stars struggling for support. I welcome the national broadcasting pledge to increase coverage of women's sport. If young girls cannot see women succeeding, it will be much more difficult for them to dream they can do it too. We need to play our part in that regard and I ask the Minister to consider ways to subsidise girls' clubs to attend women's events. Let us pack those stadium stands, irrespective of people's ability to afford tickets. I say the same for juvenile sports and their teams. When the hard work is going on, we should not just celebrate events, but also examine ways to encourage children to participate in sport and to enjoy it because sport is an enjoyable adventure. It was heartbreaking to read the following in the Limerick Leader,written by a 13 year old boy who had given up the sport he loved - hurling - because he was never given game time:

The coaches didn’t care about my feelings, they only wanted to win at all costs. Even now I find it very hard to trust adults. I was completely isolated at a sport I love. I can honestly say, I have been affected by what I had to go through at a very young age. There is so much sadness in life but playing sport should not be a sad experience.

I read that and thought it was very sad.

Sports capital grants are a lifeblood for clubs and organisations throughout the country and I have worked on quite a few with many volunteers in Carlow. It would be great if we tied some of the funding to the fair play rules, or gave more to clubs that give more to their child members, female members and the most vulnerable. We need to consider the most vulnerable. I was delighted with the sports capital grants. I acknowledge that some people were disappointed, including some clubs that contacted me. Some clubs did not receive as much funding as they deserved, and I have an issue with a few of them, which I will appeal, but other clubs were delighted. Overall, I welcome the grants.

There are many concerns about public transport. I understood that Kilkenny was meant to receive a town bus link, for which everything was ready to go. There were four buses and two routes but that is now on hold. It was meant to start in the next few weeks or perhaps in a month or two but today, when I was travelling to the House, I learned that it is on hold, which upset me. Carlow's town bus link is also on hold, which concerns me. I am constantly disappointed when I leave Carlow town on any slip road to a motorway and see cars and vans chock-a-block for the day while the owners carpool to Dublin for work. While such people are being environmentally friendly in their decision to carpool, many of them will have returned from working in New York, where the carpool system works, in one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The carpool system can work. We need to have lanes specifically for carpool vehicles in order that commuters can share their cars when they go to Dublin. I speak about Dublin because everything seems to centre on it, but I always have to ensure I represent rural Ireland, as I do. The more people who are encouraged to carpool, the fewer cars there will be on the road, which will mean less traffic for everyone and reduced carbon emissions. However, this type of pseudo-public transport is wrong because people have no other choice. We have no reliable, decent public transport in rural Ireland. While there may be trains, buses and, in some parts of the country, boats and aeroplanes, the only place where there is reliable and fit-for-purpose public transport, with all forms joined up together, is in our capital city.

Recently, we as a nation watched, horrified, as RTÉ highlighted chronic overcrowding on Irish Rail services throughout the country. As any commuter, tourist or rail user will agree, however, the problem is not new. Customers pay for transport services they do not receive. I have been contacted by a number of my constituents who use the Waterford-Dublin line and have been unable at any time to access seats for their journey. When an Irish Rail ticket is issued, it is not designated as standing or sitting. The expectation is that there will be a seat on board. If there is not a seat, there should be a reduced ticket price for those standing. It is common for lights indicating reserved seats to be turned off when the train is about to depart. Those queuing to board may not be able to access their reserved seat but when they eventually reach it, they may have to argue with a rail user who sat in the seat when the light turned off.

Seating reservations cost money and, therefore, should be guaranteed. Otherwise, customers' rights are being infringed. I have been told of passengers sitting on toilets, in wheelchair bays, in baggage units and on the floor which is wholly unacceptable. Although I requested the Minister's attention on the matter, I have been advised that such transport operational issues are outside his remit. Irish Rail's passenger charter states, "We do our best to ensure our stations and trains are safe, clean, and comfortable and have the appropriate facilities for you to enjoy your journey." This is not currently the customer experience. There is a serious issue with both health and safety and customers' rights on Irish Rail. I ask the Minister to examine this serious issue. It constantly arises. We have sought additional carriages for the Waterford-Dublin trains, which pass through Carlow. We were told months ago we would get them but they have not arrived and it is becoming a serious health and safety issue.