Mattie McGrath: Urges debate after transport discounts exclude rural Ireland
Mattie McGrath spoke in the House about recent transport discount measures and argued they discriminate against rural residents and students who cannot access the reductions. He demanded a debate, called the policy "totally discriminatory" and urged legal challenge to the exclusions by Minister Ryan.
Main complaint
Mattie McGrath said private transport companies and many rural users cannot avail of the scheme that offers 20% and now 50% reductions for some transport services in the cities and inter-cities. He asked what will happen to the people of rural Ireland - "Are they going to have to walk?" - and described the situation as shocking.
Local impact and examples
He said students from his constituency and customers of suppliers such as JJ Cabinets are unable to access the reductions, creating unfairness for rural dwellers. McGrath argued this exclusion prevents fair access to transport, education and other services for large portions of the country.
Calls for debate and legal action
McGrath demanded a debate in the House about discrimination against rural dwellers and suggested someone should challenge the policy in the courts. He directly asked the Taoiseach for a debate and criticised Minister Ryan for excluding large parts of the country.
Government response reported in the debate
The Taoiseach replied that there is an agriculture debate scheduled for Thursday and that Minister Ryan has engaged with transport operators. The Taoiseach also said Minister Ryan has connections in Tipperary and Cork and will engage further with operators; other deputies raised similar concerns and received the same reply.
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in view of what the teacher just said, and the relation of transport and the fact that all the private transport companies cannot avail of this lovely suite, 20% and now 50% for some transport services in the cities and inter-cities. What about the people of rural Ireland? Are they going to have to walk? So Minister Ryan is failing to come to talk to us. He's not turning up tonight for a topic, Leonard. We need a debate in this House about the discrimination against rural dwellers. It's shocking. This is the transport area. So any student from my constituency, or depending on JJ Cabinets or many other suppliers, that can't get to the reduction, that's totally unfair and discriminatory. And I hope someone challenges in the courts, because Minister Ryan and his people are from Tipperary, should be ashamed of himself the way that he's excluding large portions of the country and not allowing them to have the fair access to transport, to education, to all other services. This is totally discriminatory. We need a debate on it, Taoiseach. In terms of Deputy McGrath's point, I would say that there is a debate on agriculture on Thursday. Sorry? No, but you did last week? Yes. You saw the debate this week on agriculture? Yes. I know, but you can't have a debate on everything in the one week that you might want to. But that said, that said, the point that you've raised, Minister Eamon Ryan has engaged with the transport operators. My understanding is he has, and he will engage with them. He does have connections in Tipperary. He has connections in Cork. He has connections in a lot of places, apparently. He's far more in touch with rural learning than you'd give him credit for, given the branch or the tentacles that his family reach out to. Deputy Boyd Barrow raises the same issue in terms of what's going on, and that's the same kind of reply there. Thank you, Taoiseach. No, no. My reply to Deputy Callum applies to your question as well. Okay.
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