Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Murphy's call for a debate on rural transport. I raised this previously in the House. We have had the very welcome reductions yesterday of 20% and 50% for youth travel cards but, unfortunately, many of the people I represent and live beside will not see the benefit of that because they are on commercial operators, which are still not included under the scheme. Last night I was contacted by a number of people who are still bypassing their local train station to drive to Sallins to benefit from the local short hop zones there. Public transport, particularly for those in the commuter counties, as well as rural transport, is still very costly. We need to address it. I support Senator Murphy's call for a debate on that.

I also wish to raise an issue on which I have been working with a local councillor, Angela Feeney. The Kildare Down's syndrome group is a wonderful organisation supporting 235 families across Kildare and west Wicklow. In December 2021 the group received notice from the Kildare Education and Training Board, ETB, that for health and safety reasons, it must remove itself from the prefabs where it is located in Naas by October 2022. We can just imagine how the parents and the students felt when they received this news. The group is a magnificent one. Among the many services it carries out are: early development for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers; adult education classes; literacy; work skills; horticulture; social and political courses; and social activities from primary age activities to teen youth groups. It does wonderful work for so many families in the Kildare and west Wicklow area.

The group is seeking a new premises. I have written to the chief executive of the Kildare and Wicklow ETB, Dr. Deirdre Keyes. I am also putting out a call today to anyone who may have a suitable premises in the Naas or Sallins area, where the group is based and centrally located. This group cannot be allowed to lose its premises. It needs to encourage and develop the children and young adults it works with on a daily basis. If anyone in that area has a premises, it would be most welcome. I thank the Cathaoirleach.