Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Fine Gael Senators who tabled this Private Members' motion. Obviously, it is timely, given what happened across the water in Glasgow this week. I acknowledge the detailed presentation by the National Transport Authority, NTA, that all Senators received this week. It was exciting in parts.

The motion calls for investment in existing rural and regional bus services. Many of the services needed in the south Kildare area where I live were referenced in the presentation by the NTA. I will take this opportunity to highlight the No. 880 route, which currently serves the town of Castledermot and terminates in Naas. It is to be hoped that, with investment, it will serve the villages of Ballitore, Narraghmore and Calverstown and link up those important corridors in south Kildare. I have raised previously in the House that there is a need to extend this route now. The public has already spoken. The current service is inadequate and commuters are simply being left on the side of the road as the existing services cannot cope with the numbers of passengers at certain times. The Local Link service has already applied for funding to extend and develop this service. The proposal has been on its website for more than a year. Despite my following up on this on several occasions, the replies have always referred to waiting on funding.

It is my hope that the connecting Ireland routes announced this week will be properly funded and, most important, will be implemented as quickly as possible following the public consultation. If we are serious about how public transport can change rural life and village life, then the No. 883 route from Athy to Newbridge is a prime example of Local Link working well. The route has seen phenomenal growth since it was first introduced. Most important, for those living on or close to the route the service has provided a social outlet that simply did not exist prior to its establishment. It has also allowed those living in these rural locations in south Kildare the chance to seek and hold down employment. I am aware of this positive benefit as an outcome.

The motion calls for support for the NTA in its development of an equitable fare structure across all State-funded transport. I welcome the new travel card as a positive step in helping with the cost of rail transport, particularly from counties outside Dublin, but it does not go far enough. In its alternative budget, the Labour Party proposed free transport for all children and students, which is important. As I have stated previously, I am aware of students who are paying more than €100 per week to travel to college from train stations in places such as Monasterevin because of the lack of student accommodation in Dublin. The youth travel card, when introduced, will make a difference to them but we need to look at train fares urgently.

In calling for support for the NTA, the motion should also recognise, as every speaker in this debate has done, the urgent need for the Government to address the significant variance in rail fares. In recent replies to my Labour Party colleagues, the Minister has stated that the NTA is responsible for setting fares. However, in her reply in connection with reducing those fares, the CEO of the NTA stated that she cannot do so as she simply does not have the funding that would be required.

The reality, of course, is that motor carriageways such as the N7, on which I travel most mornings, have become little more than car parks. The reason for the number of cars on this carriageway is that commuters are still choosing to travel by car, even with the increase in fuel prices, due to the cost of travelling by train. Who can blame hard-pressed commuters who are still saving up to €200 per month by travelling from their homes in south Kildare to Sallins rail station to avail of short hop prices, avoiding the train stations in their area along the way? If we are serious about developing the habit of using public transport, as the Minister said recently, then we must reduce train fares outside the short hop zone. The reality is that these families are being forced to buy homes in these commuter belt locations but, to date, the Government has failed to recognise that by supporting them financially in their commute.

I support the amendment tabled by Senator Boyhan which recognises what is happening on the rail service and public transport. I refer to the coverage of this issue on radio and television programmes in the past week. Many people have contacted my office regarding incidents on rail and bus transport. We have to do something about this issue. I totally support the call by Senator Boyhan as a starting point. There is a need for a consultation on this issue.

As I stated, this is a very welcome and timely motion that facilitates debate on a range of topics that are raised with my office almost daily. South Kildare, where I live, has several wonderful villages that would benefit from enhanced Local Link services. They have benefitted in the past, but further links must be introduced for those living in these villages in order that they are not totally isolated or dependent on car transport, as has been stated. We must urgently introduce equitable fares, as called for in the motion, for rail transport outside the short hop zone. Investment in public transport does work and can create the life-changing habits the Minister has called for and is seeking. However, this investment must be front-loaded so that those who use public transport can see the benefit of doing so immediately.