Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Táim ag iarraidh labhairt inniu mar gheall ar áiseanna a d'fhógair an tAire Iompar, Teachta Eamon Ryan, inné. It is a positive news story as we edge towards Christmas. There are to be 120 new jobs created in Bus Éireann. For the first time in 15 years, we see absolutely proper, clear, well-thought-out planning and investment in rural transport. We are to have Bus Éireann services where there have been none for several years, or perhaps one bus per week, all around rural Ireland. In my constituency, if a passenger clicks her heels three times and prays to the Gods, she might catch a bus in west Clare going to Ennis. Now we are going to have multiple services daily. The official press release from Bus Éireann states: "Service enhancements on the West Clare Network which connect to rail at Ennis, will enable passengers to travel between West Clare and Dublin in a single day". More important, the services will enable people from Dublin to come down to west Clare on public transport for the first time ever. That is great news. I have worked around west Clare for a long time and I have often met people with disabilities and older people who rely on taxis, relations or neighbours to have the time to bring them places. The enhancements are important for connectivity and enabling people. I often use public transport so I have seen the disconnect between bus services and train services. The last train would get to Limerick five minutes after the last bus would go to Clare. For the first time ever, there is a really good plan with connectivity, such that when a passenger gets a bus to Ennis from west Clare, there will actually be a train there waiting to go to Dublin. The passenger will not have just missed one. I welcome the initiative.

There are 120 new jobs. A total of 15% of the posts have been taken up by women so far. I encourage more women to consider becoming a bus driver. For the first time ever, we will have a bus that will connect areas all along the coast of west Clare, including Kilkee, Doonbeg, Quilty, Miltown Malbay and Lahinch, meaning a passenger will not have to go inland to Ennis to come back out to west Clare. This is welcome news. Many rural counties will find on Bus Éireann's website an announcement to the effect that, for the first time in many years, they will have proper rural transport options.

The insurance rip-off is ongoing. Many small businesses around me are affected. As Senators have implied, it is not just car insurance that is at issue. Anyone who wants to run a cycling event or any other kind of outdoor activity is seriously limited because of insurance costs. I welcome the positive news today on the best investment in rural transport we have seen for a very long time in Ireland.