Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

There has been a lot of talk about the commuting measures in the budget over the past week or so. I welcome the extension of the 20% discount to public transport fares and the extension of reduced fares for young adults to the end of 2023. It was great to receive confirmation that the youth travel card will be extended to those aged 16, 17 and 18 years of age, which we learned through a Commencement matter in this House last Tuesday. Senator Gallagher and I had the pleasure of learning that good news.

I have had a number of queries as to how students can avail of the scheme but we have been told it will take a number of weeks until the National Transport Authority, NTA, has the process ready. It is good news. I have also asked the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who was with us last Tuesday morning, to ensure that the maximum number of private and commercial operators are encouraged to take up the scheme. The Leader will know that particularly in rural areas, commercial operators run most of the transport and it is important that they avail of the scheme.

I have a question that might have to be answered in a debate with the Minister for Transport. What are the Minister and Irish Rail going to do about train stations and commuter stations in Kildare? In Newbridge, for example, the public toilet continues to be locked for those who need it most. Roofs are leaking. I am told that will be fixed in a couple of weeks' time but commuters are still left standing outside in the rain at a time we are encouraging them to avail of public transport. Anybody who was in the N7 car park this morning trying to get to Dublin will know that to be the case. It is time we encouraged more people to use our train stations. I call for a debate in this House on public transport, rural transport and commuting. That cannot come quickly enough. Given the good news that is there, we need to get people off the roads and out of those car parks. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to come to the House to debate those issues.

I also wish to ask the Leader about the legislation around gambling. I welcome the appointment of a regulator. The Leader will know that I and colleagues in this House have raised the issue of gambling a number of times. I continue to get representations from families and individuals on a weekly, almost a daily, basis. They are at the end of their tether at the moment. They are asking how the Government and the State can help. The Minister of State, Deputy Browne, has done great work to date. I ask that we get a date for the introduction of that legislation as quickly as possible. It is badly needed for many people. We have seen recent reports on television and in the media that this problem is not going away.

I wish finally to pay tribute to one of my heroes. Eight years ago today, my mother passed away after an initial diagnosis of breast cancer. I am delighted that colleagues are here today supporting the Irish Cancer Society and all the great work it does. Irish cancer nurses have been mentioned. I cannot thank them enough for what they did for my family at the time of my mother's illness. As has been said, I encourage everybody to get involved and ask, as others have, both men and women to check their breasts. I remember my mother today.